THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIVIL  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


.  / 


'>-! 


O/'/-    GrrL,    J    ^^--    ^/-^. 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Archive 

in  2009  with  funding  from 

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THE 


LOST  DISPATCH 


GALESBURG,  ILL.: 

Galesburg  Prixtixg  and  Publishing  Company. 

1889. 


Copyrighted  1889, 
By  Galesbukg  Prixtixg  axd  Publishing  Company. 


xlll  rights  reserved. 


PREFACE. 


In  adding-  this  account  of  the  finding  of  the  "Lost 
Dispatch"  to  the  war  literature  of  our  country,  I  do 
so  without  further  preamble  or  preface  than  to  say 
that  all  persons  connected  with  this  narrative  appear 
on  the  following  pages  under  strictly  fictitious   names. 

For  purely  personal  reasons,  reasons  that  seem  to 
me  right  and  proper,  I  still  desire  to  remain  unknown. 
There  are  not  more  than  twenty-fiv^e  persons  now  liv- 
ing, who,  on  reading  this  account,  will  be  able  to  recog- 
nize the  writer.  These  I  place  on  their  honor  not  to 
reveal  their  knowledge. 

The  Author. 


603C21 


THE  LOST  DISPATCH 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  LATE  WAR, 


CHAPTER  I. 


The  Union  army  lay  impatiently  waiting 
until  the  plans  of  the  leader  of  the  Rebel 
troops  could  be  fathomed.  His  designs  were 
shrouded  in  so  much  mystery  that  the  anxious 
watchers  could  not  determine  whether  the  in- 
vasion of  Maryland  was  only  a  feint  to  draw 
off  the  Union  troops  from  the  points  they 
were  protecting,  or  whether  he  really  aimed 
to  attack  the  Northern  cities. 

It  seemed    absolutely   impossible   to    obtain 


6  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

authentic  information.  The  stories  brought  in 
V>y  the  stragglers  and  prisoners  were  wild  and 
improbable  in  the  extreme.  To  have  believed 
them  would  have  been  to  have  believed  that 
the  enemy  had  the  power  of  marching  in  a 
dozen  different  directions  at  one  and  the  same 
time,  for  each  story  gave  the  enemy  a  different 
starting  point,  and  a  different  aim  and  purpose 
to  their  movements. 

Of  the  scouts  who  had  been  sent  out  to  all 
points,  many  had  been  taken  prisoner,  or  had 
met  a  speedy  death.  In  spite  of  their  untiring 
and  daring  efforts  to  obtain  reliaVjle  informa- 
tion, the  reports  brought  back  Vjy  the  few  who 
did  return  were  so  unsatisfactory  and  contra- 
dictory that  no  dependence  could  be  placed  in 
them,  for  seeminsflv  none  of  the  soldiers  and 
few,  if  any,  of  the  officers  of  the  invading  army 
knew  where  they  were  going  or  for  what. 

At  the  headquarters  of  General  Foster, 
which  that  first  week  of  September,  ''62,  were 
located  in  an  open  meadow,  half  a  dozen  offi- 


THE   LOST   DISPATCH.  7 

cers  were  o^athered  in  a  low -voiced  consultation. 
Their  faces  were  grave  and  marked  with  lines 
of  anxious  thought,  as  they  poured  over  maps 
and  compared  conflicting  dispatches.  A  young 
oflicer,  Captain  Guilfoyle,  who  sat  writing  at  a 
table  made  up  of  rough  boards,  joined  in  the 
conversation  only  when  questioned  by  his  supe- 
rior officers,  regarding  some  point  in  the  topo- 
graphy of  the  country,  which  could  not  be 
determined  from  the  imperfect  maps  they 
studied. 

An  hour  later  all  excepting  the  young  officer 
had  left  the  tent.  Stopping  only  to  light  a 
candle  as  it  grew  too  dark  to  see,  he  wrote 
steadily  on  until  his  work  was  finished  and 
the  papers  lay  folded  on  the  table.  He 
arranged  them  ready  for  inspection,  then  rose 
and  walked  back  and  forth  across  the  narrow 
limits  of  the  tent  to  stretch  his  tired  muscles. 
At  last,  with  an  impatient  sigh,  he  seated 
himself  again  and  after  waiting  a  moment 
drew  from   his    pocket    a    long    narrow   book. 


8  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

It  fell  apart,  as  if  accustomed  to  being  opened 
at  one  particular  page,  and  the  light  from  the 
candle  shone  over  a  thick,  long  curl  of  fair 
hair,  which  might  have  been  cut  from  the 
head  bending  over  it,  so  exactly  the  same  was 
the  color.  At  the  sound  of  approaching  foot- 
steps and  voices  outside  the  tent  he  hastily 
returned  the  book  to  his  pocket. 

Some  one  was  asking  for  General  Foster. 
The  next  moment  a  man  dressed  like  a  team- 
ster entered.  His  clothes  were  ragged  and 
dirty.  One  arm  was  wrapped  around  with  a 
piece  of  blood  stained  cloth  and  hung  limp 
and  useless  at  his  side.  His  face  was  pale 
under  the  wide  brim  of  his  torn  hat,  and  the 
blood  had  trickled  down  one  side  from  a  fresh 
wound  in  his  forehead,  making  a  wide  mark 
along  his  cheek.  The  man  showed  his  utter 
exhaustion  in  every  movement,  and  staggered 
from  side  to  side  as  he  went  across  the  tent 
and  dropped  half  fainting  onto  a  stool. 

Captain  Guilfoyle  took  a  flask  from  off  the 


THE   LOST  DISPATCH.  9 

bed  and  held  it  to  the  man's  lips,  eyeing  him 
closely,  until  recovering  somewhat,  he  straight- 
ened up  and  removed  the  hat  which  partly 
shaded  his  face.  As  he  did  so  the  Captain 
recognized  him  as  one  of  the  scouts  whose  re- 
turn they  were  anxiously  hoping  would  bring 
them  the  sorely  needed  intelligence  and  whose 
report- General  Foster  had  ordered  him  to  re- 
ceive if  he  got  in  during  his  absence. 

"  Yes,  Pm  here  at  last,''  replied  the  man  to 
Captain  Guilfoyle's  hurried  interrogation,  "  and 
I've  nothing  to  report  but  a  total  lack  of 
success." 

^'  I  left  poor  Dedrick  and  Allison  over  there, 
and  barely  succeeded  in  getting  back  myself. 
You  know  what  they  were, — the  best  scouts  in 
the  whole  army.  We  did  all  men  could  do, 
but  luck  was  against  us.  We  have  learned 
nothing  except  that  the  enemy  are  across  the 
Potomac,  something  any  straggler  can  tell.  I 
have  been  four  days  getting  back,"  said  the 
new  comer,  going  on  to  give  a  full  account  of 


10  THE   LOST   DISPATCH. 

what  he  and  his  companions  had  tried  to  do. 
"  I  tell  you/'  he  added  wearily,  "  I  doubt  if 
any  one  can  find  out  what  they  mean  to  do 
until  they  do  it,  for  I  don't  believe  they  know 

themselves.     They  are .''     There  the  low 

voice  stopped  abruptly  and  the  speaker\s  head 
sank  until  it  touched  the  table. 

Calling  in  an  orderly  waitinor  outside,  the 
officer  applied  restoratives,  and  as  soon  as  con- 
sciousness returned  the  sufferer  was  helped 
away  to  a  place  where  his  wounds  could  re- 
ceive much -needed  attention. 

Captain  Guilfoyle  returned  to  his  seat  by 
the  table  to  await  General  Foster's  return. 
After  noting  down  some  items  in  a  well  \vorn 
dispatch  book,  he  leaned  his  head  on  his  hand 
and  gave  himself  to  deep  and  serious  thought, 
until,  finally,  a  look  of  grim  determination 
settled  on  his  smooth,  boyish  face. 

When  the  General  returned,  Captain  Guil- 
foyle rose  to  report  his  Avork  finished.  ''  Mc- 
Clandish    has    come    in    without    any    news  of 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  11 

importance;  the  two  scouts  with  him  were 
killed  and  he  is  badly  wounded,'"  he  reported 
further,  after  receiving  orders  relating  to  the 
disposition  of  the  papers  he  had  copied. 

The  2:rave,  anxious  look  that  settled  over 
General  Foster''s  face  as  he  listened,  showed 
how  he  regarded  the  failure  of  an  undertaking 
from  which  so  much  had  been  hoped.  In 
obedience  to  a  word  from  his  superior,  the 
young  officer  went  on  to  give  a  full  account 
of  all  he  had  learned  from  McClandish.  When 
he  had  finished  he  made  a  moment's  pause, 
then  added  quickly,  leaning  forward  and 
speaking  almost  in  a  whisper,  "  If  you  will 
allow  me  to  go,  I  V)elieve  I  can  bring  full 
and  reliable  information  of  the  strength  of  the 
enemy's  forces  and  of  his  plans  and  intentions.'' 

The  General  stopped  his  rapid  pacing  across 
the  tent  and  looked  keenly  at  the  slim,  boyish 
figure  standing  before  him.  '^If  you  could:  if 
we  knew  the  strength  of  the  Rebel  forces  and 
where  thev  mean  to  strike,  worn  out  and  de- 


12  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

moralized  as  our  troops  are,  we  could  surely 
intercept  them  and  turn  them  back,"  he  said. 

"  I  can  try,"  replied  Captain  Guilfoyle. 

''  You  know  the  fate  of  the  most  of  the  men 
who  have  gone,"  said  the  General  gravely. 

"  But  it  may  not  be  mine,"  returned  the 
younger  officer. 

"  McClandish  is  one  of  our  best  lieutenants 
and  the  two  scouts  with  him  were  old,  both  in 
experience  and  training.  How  can  you  succeed 
w^here  they  and  all  the  others  have  failed  ? " 
added  General  Foster  after  a  long  pause. 

"  I  believe  I  can  do  it." 

^'  How  ? " 

"  If  you  will  accept  my  services  and  see  that 
my  destination  is  kept  secret,  and  that  I  shall 
never  be  required  to  tell  how  I  gain  any  infor- 
mation I  bring  back,  I  will  be  back  at  the 
earliest  possible  moment  and  I  trust  with  a  full 
knowledge  of  what  the  enemy  mean  to  do,"  re- 
plied Captain  Guilfoyle  firmly.  "I  only  ask 
that  no  person  except  yourself  shall  know  for 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  13 

what  I  have  gone.  Send  me  instead  of  Free- 
land  to  Washington  with  these  dispatches.  Let 
it  be  known  I  have  gone  thei-e,  but  after  I  have 
delivered  them  let  me  follow  my  own  plan.  I 
cannot  tell  just  how  long  I  must  be  away,  but 
you  may  be  assured  not  one  day,  not  one  hour 
longer  than  necessary." 

A  low,  earnest  conversation  followed,  which 
ended  in  General  Foster  accepting  the  offer  of 
his  young  aid. 


CHAPTER  II. 

From  this  point  I  will  drop  tlje  cloak  of  an 
observer  and  narrate  events  as  they  followed 
fast  upon  each  other. 

After  leaving  General  Foster's  tent  I  went 
to  inquire  after  McClandish.  I  found  him  with 
his  wounds  dressed,  and  though  weak  from  loss 
of  blood  and  exhaustion,  he  had  recovered 
enough  to  give  me  some  pieces  of  information 
I  wanted. 

My  preparations  were  not  extensive,  but  in- 
cluded the  writing  of  some  letters  to  be  left 
with  General  Foster  and  sent  by  him  to  various 
friends  in  case  I  did  not  i-eturn. 

Just  as  I  was  turning  in  for  a  few  hours' 
sleep.  Major  Larrabee,  who  shared  my  tent, 
came  in.  We  talked  awhile  on  the  outlook  of 
affairs,  then  I  told  him  that  I  had  been  ordered 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  15 

to  the  Capital  with  dispatches  and  was  to  set 
out  at  dayljreak. 

Joe  had  a  cup  of  coffee  ready  for  me  before 
daylight  showed  itself,  and  as  I  finished  it  he 
brought  around  Bagdad,  ready  saddled.  I 
had  not  thou2:ht  of  it  when  ofivincr  my  orders 
the  night  before,  but  as  the  horse  gave  a  glad 
wdiinny  of  welcome,  I  quickly  decided  to  leave 
him  to  await  my  return  and  take  a  less 
valuable  horse.  I  knew  that  in  a  few  hours  I 
would  have  to  change  to  a  fresh  one  and  it 
would  not  be  likely  that  once  left  I  would  ever 
see  him  again. 

I  was  soon  on  my  way.  I  carried  dispatches 
to  General  Pennington  and  Colonel  Barbour, 
and  important  papers  which  I  was  to  deliver 
to  the  Commander-in-Chief,  wherever  he  might 
be. 

The  sun  was  just  up  w^hen  I  reached  the 
headquarters  of  General  Pennington  and  de- 
livered the  dispatches.  I  learned  there  that 
the   troops   had    been    moved;  that  the   Com- 


16  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

mander-in- Chief  was  near  R ,  so  instead  of 

going  on  toward  Washington  I  turned  off  and 
saved  considerable  time  by  going  across  the 
country. 

I  found  the  general  headquarters  on  a  slope 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  south  of  R — . 
Without  hard  ridino;  I  reached  there  before 
nine  o'clock.  As  I  dismounted  an  orderly 
took  my  horse  and  called  another,  who  con- 
ducted me  past  the  trim  sentries  and  across 
the  tent-outlined  square  to  the  tent  of  the 
Commander-in-Chief.  He  was  ready  to  see 
me  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  I  had  deliv- 
ered the  papers  and  was  on  my  way  to  Wash- 
ington, where  Colonel  Barbour  was  to  meet  me 
and  deliver  the  dispatches  which  he  and  Gen- 
eral Pennington  wished  to  send  back  to  General 
Foster,  so  saving  me  the  trip  out  to  get  them. 

I  found  the  roads  so  filled  with  vehicles. of 
all  sorts,  mingled  with  cavalry  and  foot  sol- 
diers, as  to  be  almost  impassable  in  any  direc- 
tion, and  at  places  they  were  completely  ob- 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  17 

structed,  but  by  taking  side  paths  I  was  able  to 
keep  my  horse  at  a  fair  speed. 

At  four  o'clock  I  was  to  meet  Colonel  Bar- 
bour at  Willard's  and  in  the  meantime  I  had 
enough  to  do. 

As  soon  as  I  reached  the  city  I  made  my 
way  to  a  restaurant  for  a  nondescript  meal, 
which  might  be  called  either  a  very  late  break- 
fast or  an  early  dinner.  From  there  I  went  to 
Willard's,  where  I  took  a  room  and  a  hot  bath. 
Ever  since  I  had  decided  to  undertake  the 
hazardous  enterprise  on  which  I  was  bent,  I 
had  had  an  intense  desire  to  be  off  and  avoid 
all  delay,  and  it  required  more  time  than  I 
cared  to  give  to  remove  the  traces  of  my  long, 
hard  ride  and  furbish  myself  up  into  a  tit  con- 
dition for  calling,  but  the  calls  I  was  to  make 
were  the  preliminary  steps  in  my  hastily  con- 
structed plans  and  too  important  to  be  omitted. 

The  bright  sun  of  the  morning  was  almost 
obscured  by  hazy  clouds  as  I  started  out  that 
warm  September  afternoon. 


18  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

I  sat  ill  four  different  parlors  that  afternoon, 
and  my  fair  Rebel  entertainers  little  dreamed 
that  I,  who  had  "  looked  them  uj^  for  old 
acquaintance  sake  while  I  had  a  few  hours' 
leisure/'  sat  with  every  nerve  strained,  only 
waiting  for  an  opportunity  to  put  the  seem- 
ingly trivial  questions  which  were  to  gain  me 
the  information  so  necessary  to  the  successful 
carrying  out  of  my  plans.  All  direct  questions 
had  to  be  most  carefully  avoided  and  it  was 
discouraging  to  lead  up  to  the  subject  and 
then  have  the  conversation  go  over  and  around 
the  point  to  which  I  had  been  so  carefully 
striving  to  bring  it. 

At  the  end  of  my  second  call  I  was  ready 
to  curse  the  luck  which  made  further  effort 
necessary.  During  the  third  call  I  began  to 
get  the  desired  enlightenment,  and  at  the 
next  house  a  few  freely  volunteered  remarks 
rounded  my  scrappy  knowledge.  That  I  did 
not  change  countenance,  I  knew  from  the  face 
of  my  entertainer,   and  she  little  guessed  the 


THE    LOST    DISPATCH.  19 

lov  I  felt  when  she  causallv^  told  me  what  I 
had  been  striving  so  hard  to  find  out.  My  one 
desire  then  was  to  get  away,  and  it  required 
some  eifort  to  keep  up  my  part  of  the  conversa- 
tion. If  I  had  followed  the  predominant  im 
pulse  of  the  moment  I  would  have  sped  away 
and  "  stayed  not  on  the  order  of  my  going/'  in- 
stead of  drawing  my  call  out  to  the  proper, 
lingering  length. 

When  I  again  reached  Willard's,  I  inquired 
if  Colonel  Barbour  had  yet  arrived,  and  learn- 
ing that  he  had,  I  went  directly  to  his  room. 
There  were  three  or  four  other  officers  there, 
all  anxious  to  learn  any  news  I  could  tell  and 
eager  to  question,  but  as  I  was  not  personally 
acquainted  with  any  of  them,  I  cut  all  conver- 
sation as  short  as  I  could  without  actual  rude- 
ness, and  avoided  beins:  detained  lono-.  I 
ordered  my  horse,  and  feeling  the  necessity 
of  eating  while  I  had  an  opportunity,  I  went 
in  to  dinner. 

After  a  hasty  meal  I  left    the    hotel.     The 


so  THE    LOST   nrsPATCII. 

street  was  full  of  moving  troops.  As  I  rode 
slowly  along  I  had  to  draw  up  close  to  the 
pavement  several  times  to  avoid  the  crush,  and 
several  times  came  to  a  full  halt,  until  the 
moving  mass  of  troops,  vehicles  and  pedes- 
trians had  suro^ed  past.  I  finally  reached  the 
small  restaurant  on  a  side  street,  where,  as 
previously  arranged,  I  met  an  orderly  sent  hy 
General  Foster.  I  gave  him  the  dispatches  I 
carried,  telling  him  to  proceed  at  once  with 
them  to  that  General's  headquarters.  As  soon 
as  he  was  out  of  the  \vay  I  was  free  to  follow 
my  own  jolans. 

The  streets  were  comparatively  deserted  in 
the  direction  I  took  on  leaving  tlie  restaurant, 
and  I  met  with  no  detention.  After  leaving 
the  city  fairly  behind  me,  a  sharp  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour's  ride  brought  me  to  a 
small,  old  house  standing  somewhat  back  from 
the  road.  A  decrepit  negro  took  my  horse 
and  I  went  in  at  a  side  door  opening  onto  the 
drive. 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  ^1 

It  was  dark  when  I  left  the  house  again,  but 
even  in  daylight  I  do  not  believe  any  stranger 
would  have  recognized  in  me,  the  well  gotten 
up  young  officer  who  had  entered  half  an  hour 
before.  I  had  discarded  all  my  accouterments 
and  my  uniform,  which,  notwithstanding  the 
rough  usage  it  had  lately  been  through,  still 
retained  much  of  its  new  freshness  and  glitter 
of  brass  and  gilt.  In  its  place  I  had  on  a 
pair  of  blue  trousers,  a  gray  flannel  shirt  and 
a  large,  soft  felt  hat,  all  considerable  the  worse 
for  wear.  I  had  also  changed  to  a  fresh  horse. 
The  one  I  took  was  not  much  in  the  way  of 
looks,  but  had  considerable  speed  in  him,  and 
was  not  too  valuable  to  abandon  to  the  enemy, 
as  I  was  well  aware  I  might  have  to  do  at  any 
moment. 

Leaving  the  place  by  a  gate  near  the  stables, 
which  led  into  a  grove,  I  threaded  my  way 
throu2^h  it  then  turnins:  ^vest  I  rode  across  a 
meadow  and  through  another  grove,  where  I 
came    to    a   road    which    I    followed    until    I 


22  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

reached  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal.  I  in- 
tended to  avoid  observation  as  far  as  I  could. 
I  carried  passes  which  would  prevent  any 
serious  trouble  if  iny  detainers  were  our  own 
troops.  But  a  meeting  with  any  of  them  might 
require  me  to  lose  considerable  time.  There 
was,  besides,  the  possibility  that  I  might 
chance  on  a  party  of  Rebels  lurking  around 
and  I  was  particularly  anxious  to  avoid  such. 

Fortunately  I  met  but  few  persons.  Some 
passed  without  accosting  me.  Three  times 
when  approaching  sounds  indicated  more  than 
a  single  individual,  I  drew  off  into  shelter 
and  squads  of  four  or  five  men  rode  rapidly 
past.  Who  or  what  they  were  I  was  too  far 
off  to  distinguish. 

As  soon  as  I  was  on  the  tow-path  I  put  my 
horse  to  a  gallop  and  passed  rapidly  over  a 
number  of  miles.  Several  times  I  was  oblig-ed 
to  make  my  way  up  and  down  the  steep  banks 
to  avoid  being  stopped.  At  one  particularly 
forbidding  spot,  where  the  rocks  overhung  the 


THE   LOST   DISPATCH.  23 

path,  some  guard  at  an  exalted  altitude  sang 
out  a  question  about  my  destination,  which  I 
did  not  stop  to  answer.  He  repeated  his  in- 
quiry and  emphasized  it  by  sending  a  bullet 
after  me.     Luckily  it  went  wide  of  the  mark. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Another  hour's  riding,  a  ten  minute's  pause 
to  reconnoiter,  and  I  crossed  to  the  other  side 
of  the  Potomac  by  a  rough  and  almost  impass- 
able ford.  Making  the  top  of  the  rocks  which 
faced  the  river,  I"  gave  my  horse  time  to  get  his 
breath,  while  I  sat  on  a  stone  beside  him. 
Night  and  darkness  had  almost  shut  in  the 
view  on  every  side.  The  moon  was  up  but 
was  obscured  by  clouds  except  for  a  moment 
or  two  at  a  time.  I  could  hear  the  faint  swish 
of  the  water  as  it  flowed  over  the  stones  imme- 
diately below,  but  save  for  that  an  intense  still- 
ness prevailed. 

Rising  after  a  fe^v  moments'  contemplation 
of  a  landscape,  which  I  could  l)ut  faintly  see, 
I  buried  my  passes  and  the  one  other  valuable 
paper  I  carried   under  a  huge  stone.     I  then 

24 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  25 

felt  that  I  was  fairly  started  on  my  perilous 
undertaking.  I  was  on  the  Virginia  side  of 
the  river,  in  a  region  known  to  he  swarming 
with  Rebels  who  asked  nothing  better  than  to 
catch  a  Union  spy.  I  well  knew  that  if  I 
should  run  across  any  of  them  in  such  a  way 
as  to  arouse  their  suspicions  my  life  would  not 
be  worth  the  asking,  and  I  wouhl  share  the 
fate  of  many  who  had  tried  before. 

As  I  no\v  had  no  passes  or  any  way  of  prov- 
ing my  identity,  I  also  had  to  guard  equally 
against  meeting  any  of  our  own  troops,  for 
unless  I  should  chance  on  an  acquaintance 
among  them,  they  would  be  certain  to  hold  me 
prisoner.  My  endeavor  was  to  avoid  every 
one,  for  a  small  foraging  party  or  a  few  belated 
pickets  might  prove  as  disastrous  to  me  as  ''  an 
army  with  banners.^'  I  had  determined  that  it 
would  be  necessary  for  me  to  avoid  all  well- 
traveled  roads  and  all  towns,  even  the  smallest 
villao;es,  and  to  make  mv  wav  throusfh  the 
dense  woods  when  ever  I  could,  taking:  advant- 


2fi  THE    LOST   DTS PATCH. 

age  of  such  bridle-paths  as  I  could  find  run- 
ning in  the  direction  I  wanted  to  go. 

Before  I  had  rode  many  miles  I  became  con- 
vinced that  a  s^eneral  move  toward  the  Poto- 
mac  of  some  sort  was  going  on.  When  ever  I 
approached  a  road  I  could  tell  from  the  sounds 
that  persons  were  passing  along  it,  not  rapidly  / 
or  in  any  large  sized  bodies,  but  mostly  on  foot 
and  singly,  or  in  small  squads  of  six  or  eight. 
They  seemed  to  be  pressing  on  too  steadily  for 
ordinary  skulkers,  yet  in  a  too  "  go  as  you 
please''  style  for  troops  under  command. 

At  last  I  decided  to  gratify  my  curiosity, 
hoping  to  gain  at  the  same  time  some  informa- 
tion that  would  be  of  use  to  me. 

Some  miles  back  I  had  struck  a  path  which 
I  had  been  able  to  follow.  When  it  again 
crossed  a  road,  1  stopped  a  few  rods  back, 
slipped  my  horse's  bridle  ov^er  a  sapling  and 
made  my  way  to  the  edge  of  the  road,  which, 
as  I  soon  made  out  at  this  point,  ran  along  a 
sort  of  gully.     On  the  side  I  was  on  the  bank 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  27 

was  at  least  four  feet  above  the  road,  and 
along  the  edge  of  the  V)ank  was  a  rough 
attempt  at  a  rail -fence  pieced  out  and  propped 
up  here  and  there  with  stones.  I  crept  noise- 
lessl}^  behind  this  shelter  and  waited  until  two 
stragglers  came  along.  When  nearly  opposite 
me  they  accosted  a  third  who  must  have  been 
restincr  V>y  the  roadside. 

We  all  went  on  together;  they  on  the  road 
and  I  behind  the  fence.  From  their  inter- 
change of  confidences,  scraps  of  which  came  up 
to  me,  I  soon  learned  that  they  were  Rebels 
and  belonged  to  Knapp^s  division,  and  that  in 
the  first  advance  it  had  been  left  behind  on  the 
James,  but  had  just  crossed  the  Potomac  and 
gone  on  to  join  Luce.  The  men  seemed 
to  be  stragglers  who  had  dropped  behind 
from  pure  physical  inability  to  keep  up.  and 
their  great  anxiety,  as  well  as  I  could  judge 
from  their  conversation,  was  to  p-et  there  before 
anybody  ^'fit." 

Having   learned    all    I   was   likely   to    from 


28  THE   LOST  DISPATCH. 

them,  I  retraced  my  steps  and  mounted  my 
horse.  I  had  to  keep  him  at  a  walk,  for  I  was 
in  a  rough  piece  of  woods  and  could  not  see 
two  feet  beyond  my  horse's  head.  I  had  not 
rode  long  when  I  heard  faint  sounds  of  mus- 
ketry in  front  of  me  and  a  little  to  my  left,  in 
exactly  the  direction  I  was  traveling.  I  list- 
ened intently,  and  concluded  it  must  he  a 
chance  brush  between  a  party  of  our  troops 
and  some  of  the  Rebels. 

The  Uring  was  directly  between  where  I  was 
and  the  place  where  I  intended  to  get  break- 
fast and  hoped  to  get  a  fresh  horse.  I  did  not 
want  to  miss  stopping  there,  for  it  was  the  only 
Union  man^s  house  I  knew  of  any  where  near. 
I  could  not  afford  to  circle  around  the  fighting, 
as  it  might  lead  me  considerably  out  of  my 
road.  A  skirmish,  even  if  a  small  affair,  is  a 
very  unsatisfactory  thing  to  go  around,  not 
being  exactly  station aiy. 

I  carried  an  old  silver  watch  which  I  had 
procured  during  my  stay  in  the  Capital,  but  it 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  29 

was  too  dark  to  see  the  time  without  strikino-  a 
match,  which  I  did  not  care  to  do.  I  judged 
from  the  distance  I  had  come  it  must  be  near 
daybreak.  So,  anxious  as  I  was  to  get  on,  I 
knew  it  would  be  wdse  to  halt  until  it  began 
to  get  light  and  the  dispute  ahead  should  be 
settled. 

I  tied  my  horse  to  a  tree  and  went  as  far 
away  as  I  could  to  be  within  hearing  distance 
of  his  movements.  As  soon  as  I  discovered  a 
log,  w^hich  I  did  at  last  by  taking  a  header  over 
it,  I  lay  down  behind  it.  Though  in  point  of 
fact  I  did  not  know  which  to  call  the  front  or 
back,  considering  it  as  a  barrier  to  an  ap- 
proaching foe. 

I' was  too  weary  to  more  than  reach  a  recum- 
bent position  before  I  was  asleep.  I  had  been 
asleep  long  enough  to  feel  completely  chilled 
from  the  cold  fog  when  somethino-  awoke  me. 
I  aroused  with  a  start  and  a  feeling  that  some 
one  w^as  near  me.  On  the  alert  at  once  I 
waited  with    baited    breath   for   some   further 


30  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

noise  to  indicate  in  which  direction  the  distur- 
bance had  been,  Vjut  none  came  and  I  linally 
concluded  that  I  had  })een  mistaken  or  dream- 
ing. 

I  went  over  to  look  at  my  horse  and  make 
sure  that  he  had  not  pulled  loose.  He  was 
where  I  had  left  him  and  had  evidently  spent 
his  time  nibbling  off  every  tender  branch  in  his 
reach. 

I  determined  to  look  around  before  mount- 
ing. It  was  barely  daybreak  and  there  was 
a  light  fog,  \vhich  made  all  excepting  near 
objects  indistinct.  I  made  my  way  through  a 
shallow,  dry  gully  and  across  a  wide  flat  cov- 
ered with  trees.  I  knew  I  must  then  be  near 
the  road  which  I  had  been  skirting  the  latter 
part  of  my  ride,  so  I  paused  a  moment  before 
advancing  further.  Hearing  nothing  I  went 
on  around  a  jutting  point  of  rocks  on  a  thicket- 
covered  slope  and  stopped  at  the  head  of  a 
washout,  made  by  the  summer  rains. 

As  I  stood  listening  the  ground   suddenly 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  31 

gave  way  with  me  and  I  went  down  a  steep 
bank,  to  find  the  road  sooner  than  I  expected, 
and  myself  in  the  company  of  two  Rebel  sol- 
diers and  a  broken  down  army  wagon.  1 
found  out  with  a  vengeance  what  had  aroused 
me,  and  as  is  sometimes  the  case  with  investiga- 
tors, learned  more  than  was  desirable. 

The  men  had  evidently  been  half  asleep, 
when  my  abrupt  appearance  brought  them  to 
their  feet. 

A  man  has  to  think  quickly  in  moments  of 
danger.  I  took  in  the  situation  at  a  glance  and 
in  the  same  brief  time  decided  to  enter  into 
conversation  with  them. 

''  What's  up  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Broke  down,"  replied  the  liveliest  looking 
of  the  two,  while  both  kept  their  muskets  sug- 
gestively convenient  and  eyed  me  suspiciously. 

The  wagon  was  heavily  loaded  and  the  back 
axle-tree  had  broken  in  two,  letting  down  the 
end.  I  looked  it  over  because  I  had  nothing 
better  to  do.     One  of  the  men  volunteered  the 


32  THE    LOST    DISPATCH. 

information  that  it  ^va8  twice  too  niLK-li  of  a 
load. 

''  You  dont  expect  to  sit  here  with  it  all  day, 
do  you?''  I  asked,  intending  to  offer  to  go 
ahead  and  find  some  one  to  help  them  right 
matters  as  an  excuse  to  get  away. 

"  No,"  said  the  man  who  had  not  spoken 
before.  '*  Holly,  'es  gone  on  thar  an'  'ell  bring 
back  some  of  our  squad  to  help." 

As  he  spoke,  faintly  approaching  sounds  in- 
dicated that  ''  Hollv "  was  coming^  back  with 
assistance.  There  was  no  chance  for  me  to 
leave  and  nothino;  better  suo^o^ested  itself  than 
to  act  so  that  whoever  came  back  would  think 
I  belonged  there.  I  proposed  to  the  men  that 
we  mio^ht  as  well  see  what  we  could  do  while 
we  waited. 

When  a  dingy  officer  and  eight  men  ap- 
peared on  the  scene,  we  were  all  three  busy 
inspecting  the  damage  and  no  awkward  ques- 
tions were  asked.  So  for  a  short  space  of 
time  I   served   in    the    Confederate    army, — at 


THE    LOST    DTS PATCH.  33 

least  I  jDulled  at  the  wheel  of  a  Confederate 
army  wagon,  Avith  a  great  sliow  of  work  and 
no  real  exertion. 

The  officer  in  command,  it  Avas  impossible 
to  tell  his  rank  from  his  dress,  l)nt  as  he 
assumed  more  airs  than  a  Brio-adier- General, 
it  is  safe  to  sa}"  he  was  not  above  a  Sergeant, 
ordered  the  men  around  as  if  he  were  recon- 
structing an  entire    train. 

His  obstancy  was  soon  apparent  to  my  very 
alert  observation.  No  matter  what  one  of  the 
men  began  to  do,  he  stopped  him  and  set  him 
to  w^ork  in  another  manner. 

This  amiable  trait  of  his  character  I  turned 
to  my  own  advantage.  AVlien  things  were 
righted  and  he  called  out  that  one  man  must 
go  back  with  a  message  and  the  rest  follow 
him,  I  said  audibly  that  I  would  "  go  on," 
and  had  my' expectations  realized  by  his  order- 
ing me  to  go  back  to  meet  Captain  Shuman. 

Not  being  deeply  impressed  with  the  neces- 
sity of  encountering  that  individual,  I  followed 
the  road  no  longer  than  was  necessary  to  take 


34  THE    LOST    DISPATCH. 

me  beyond  sight  and  bearing  of  the  men  who, 
with  the  wagon,  had  started  in  the  opposite 
direction.  Entering  the  woods,  I  returned  to 
my  horse,  mounted  and  hurried  on. 

As  I  n eared  the  place  where  the  firing  had 
occurred,  I  kept  a  sharp  lookout  for  a  dead 
Confederate  in  decent  clothes,  intending  to 
appropriate  them.  It  is  proverbially  slow 
work  waiting  for  dead  men's  shoes,  and  I 
found  it  considerably  more  tedious  still  try- 
ing to  acquire  a  more  extended  outfit.  In  all 
the  four  miles  to  Petterbridge's  there  were  no 
signs  of  a  skirmish  visible,  saving  a  dead  horse 
and  a  discarded  musket  or  two.  I  wanted  at 
the  first  opportunity  to  discard  my  blue 
trousers  for  a  pair  of  the  Rebel  colors.  Many 
of  the  men  in  the  Confederate  army  at  that 
time  wore  such  parts  of  Union  soldiers'  clothes 
as  they  had  been  able  to  get  to  replace  their 
own  ragged  and  filthy  garments.  I  knew  the 
blue  trousers  I  wore  would  not  be  likely  to 
excite  any  suspicion,  still  I  preferred  to  use 
every  precaution. 


CHAPTER    TV. 

Petterbridge's  house  stood  in  a  small  shel- 
tered v^alley  into  which  the  sun  had  not  yet 
made  its  way,  when  I  drew  rein  at  the  rail 
fence  at  the  side  of  his  house.  As  I  was  not 
known  by  the  family,  and  might  have  had 
trouble  o-ettino:  what  I  wanted  from  anv  of 
them,  I  was  particularly  glad  when  the  old 
man  himself  appeared  at  the  back  door.  In 
reply  to  his  '^  What  ere'  want,  stranger  ? "  I 
dismounted  and  convinced  him  who  I  was. 
As  there  was  only  the  family  at  home,  it  was 
safe  for  me  to  stop. 

Here  I  got  breakfast,  a  pocketfull  of  bread 
and  meat  to  carry  with  me,  a  fresh  horse,  a 
pair  of  butternut  trousers,  and  the  news  that 
several  houses  supposed  to  belong  to  Unionists 
had    been  burnt  by  Kebels  during  the  night. 

35 


36  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

Petterbridge  also  said  that  quite  a  body  of 
Confederate  troops  had  passed  down  the  valley 
a  mile  back  the  day  before,  and  ga\'e  me  the 
agreeable  bit  of  information  that  the  country 
ahead  was  worse,  if  possible,  than  what  I  had 
just  come  through,  being  alive  with  raiders 
and  bushwhackers  as  well  as  overrun  with 
stragglers  anxious  to  get  to  the  front. 

Devotedly  hoping  that  I  might  miss  all  these 
ill-regulated  gentlemen,  I  left  Petterbridge's 
and  pushed  on.  The  horse  I  had  taken  was 
only  a  fair  traveler,  but  then  he  was  not  too 
valuable  to  abandon  to  the  enemy. 

A  number  of  times  I  met  and  was  accosted 
by  single  stragglers  and  skulkers.  They  were 
a  pitiful  looking  set  of  men,  ragged  as  Lazarus, 
generally  barefoot,  and  gaunt  almost  to  emaci- 
ation. I  always  stopped  at  the  least  effort  on 
their  part  to  enter  into  conversation,  and  asked 
earnestly  after  a  lost  cow  or  a  fictitious  com- 
panion, varying  the  inquiry  as  1  thought  my 
interlocutor    took    me   for   one    of  the    moun- 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  37 

taineers  indigenous  to  that  region,  or  for  one 
of  themselves. 

I  never  willingly  ran  against  them,  but  it 
was  impossible  to  avoid  them  entirely,  for  they 
were  making  for  the  Potomac,  and  I  was  prac- 
tically following  its  course  and  going  across 
their  line  of  march.  There  was  really  little  to 
fear  from  them.  They  could  not  know  that  I 
was  a  Union  spy,  and  they  were  not  a  suspi- 
cious set  of  men  anyway. 

It  was  the  bushwhackers  and  raiders  I  was 
most  in  danger  from,  and  more  from  the  bush- 
whackers tlian  the  raiders.  The  latter,  like 
the  stragglers,  kept  on  and  near  the  roads,  and 
there  was  always  enouo-h  of  them  too-ether  to 
make  me  aware  of  their  presence  by  their  noise, 
so  with  due  caution  I  would  not  be  likely  to 
encounter  them.  More  than  a  dozen  times  I 
drew  up  into  thickets  and  ravines  to  let  a 
party  of  them  pass,  and  several  other  times 
saw  squads  in  the  distance.  From  the  bush- 
whackers   I    had    no    protection.      Singularly 


38  THE    LOST   DTS PATCH. 

eDough  I  did  not  actually  encounter  any,  al- 
though I  discerned  a  good  many  by  the  aid 
of  my  imagination  and  had  plenty  of  evidence 
of  their  actual  near  presence.  The  whole 
country  was  an  extremely  pretty  one  to  bush- 
whack in.  I  tried  to  let  the  fact  slip  my  mind, 
but  I  had  an  unpleasant,  ticklish  sensation  in 
my  back  the  whole  time  and  longed  for  an 
eye  in  the  rear  of  my  head  to  keep  a  lookout 
in  the  direction  from  which  I  particularly 
anticipated  a  bullet. 

I  will  here  say  I  was  in  the  bloodiest  and 
most  hopless  battles  of  the  war,  and  I  have 
had  a  pretty  steady  diet  of  Indian  fighting 
since  the  war,  having  been  surrounded  by 
half- frozen  Indians  of  various  tribes  in  Mon- 
tana and  Dakota,  and  chased  and  been  chased 
by  red  hot  Apaches  in  Arizona  and  New 
Mexico,  but  never  have  I  undergone  such 
nerve -trying  work  as  was  that  trip  I  made 
as  a  Union  spy,  the  account  of  which  I  am 
telling. 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  39 

There  was  never  at  any  time  more  danger 
than  I  met  afterward,  but  there  was  no  let 
up.  Every  nerve  was  strung  to  its  highest 
tension  and  kept  there,  every  sense  was  held 
alert.  There  was  never  present  the  enlivening 
enthusiasm  of  battle,  Avhich  warms  a  man's 
blood  to  deeds  of  heroism;  there  was  no  emu- 
lation to  keep  up  one's  courage;  there  was 
always  the  demoralizing  necessity  of  keeping 
out  of  the  way  of  danger;  there  was  ever 
present  the  fretting  fact  that  self-preservation 
only  could  insure  success.  No  man  is  anxious 
to  be  killed.  No  matter  how  strongly  he  is 
imbued  with  a  sense  of  duty  and  honor  and 
of  love  for  his  country,  he  is  pretty  certain 
to  feel  that  her  good  will  be  better  secured 
if  he  is  on  the  boards  to  look  after  it,  than 
it  would  be  if  he  had  laid  down  his  life  at 
her  shrine.  He  prefers  to  live,  but  at  the 
same  time  he  does  not  ^v^ant  his  personal  safety 
to  be  a  matter  of  perpetual  concern. 

I   was   not   a   coward,  but  I  felt  decidedly 


40  THE   LOST   DISPATCH. 

averse  to  l^eiucr  shot.  I  had  started  out  to  do 
something  and  I  wanted  to  do  it;  I  had  already 
concluded  that  there  was  no  "  right  time  "  for  a 
spy  to  l:)e  killed.  He  does  not  want  to  be  shot 
until  he  has  found  out  what  he  seeks  to  know, 
and  then  not  until  he  has  told  it. 

It  was  about  three  oV-lock  when  I  finally 
stumbled  on  an  oat  stack  in  an  odd  little  clear- 
ing, far  out  from  sight  of  the  owner's  windows. 

I  let  my  horse  take  his  dinner,  while  I  kept 
guard  and  ate  a  sandwich.  In  order  to  let  him 
make  as  good  a  meal  as  possible  I  delayed  as 
long  as  my  impatience  would  let  me  and  then 
nearly  made  him  Vjreak  his  neck  and  mine  too, 
by  trying  to  canter  liim  down  a  place  about  as 
steep  as  Jordalemet  and  nearly  as  slick,  in 
order  to  make  up  for  lost  time. 

The  country  which  liad  been  comparatively 
level  and  well  settled  for  some  distance  back 
through  the  valley,  became  rough  again  as  I 
neared  the  mountains,  and  I  had  to  make  my 
way  more  slowly  and  cautiously. 


THE   LOST   DISPATCH.  41 

I  seemed  to  have  rim  out  of  the  stream  of 
Rebels.  I  determined  to  question  the  first  per- 
son I  met.  Before  long  I  saw  a  weak  minded 
looking  man  driving  a  few  sheep  along  a 
narro^v  path,  and  coming  from  the  opposite 
direction. 

''  Howdy,  stranger  ?  "  I  began. 

"  Howdy  ?  '^  he  returned. 

^'You're  pretty  fortunate  to  get  through  with 
them  sheep,  without  their  l)eing  turned  into 
mutton." 

"Met  nobody  to  turn  ^em;  ain't  nobody  up 
that  way." 

From  this  I  judged  that  the  country  ahead 
was  free  of  both  Rebels  and  Yankees  as  far 
back  as  he  had  come.  He  eyed  me  suspi- 
ciously while  talking,  but  was  evidently  tell- 
ing the  truth  as  far  as  he  knew  it.  He  seemed 
in  a  great  hurry  to  get  away  from  me  with 
his  sheep,  and  after  asking  him  for  minute 
directions  for  a  road  that  turned  to  the  right 
about  four  miles  ahead  and  which  I  did  not 
intend  to  take,  we  separated. 


42  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

After  parting  from  him  I  shortly  turned  to 
my  left,  having  decided  that  as  soon  as  I  came 
to  it,  which  I  knew  would  be  in  a  little  time, 
I  would  avail  myself  of  a  road  leading  over 
the  mountains. 

Riding  slowly  along  through  the  dense  for- 
est, wondering  if  I  dared  treat  myself  to  a 
smoke,  I  turned  full  on  a  group  of  four 
men,  in  dirty  butternut,  camped  in  a  laurel 
brake.  They  were  chivalrous  Southerners 
without  doubt,  but  built  on  the  plan  of 
"  He  who  fights  and  runs  away.''  They  evi- 
dently thought  they  had  been  discovered  by 
Yankees  and  that  the  proper  time  to  run  had 
arrived.  One  man,  who  was  lifting  a  bucket 
of  coifee  from  the  coals,  ejaculated  '*  hell,"  and 
taking  the  bucket  wdth  him,  fled,  followed  by 
the  others. 

To  my  startled  gaze  they  seemed  to  dis- 
appear in  a  dozen  different  directions  at  the 
same  time.  1  ^vould  have  been  extremely 
grateful  to  the  leader  if  he  had  left  the  coffee 
behind. 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  43 

Knowing  that  a  short  stop  made  by  me 
might  be  lengthened  out  indefinitely  if  any  of 
the  fugitives  chanced  to  return.  I  departed 
without  much  delay.  As  soon  as  I  reached 
the  road  I  turned  into  it  and  had  a  compara- 
tively easy  time  for  the  next  few  miles. 


CHAPTER  V. 

I  was  80  weary  and  Avorn  out  by  my  con- 
stant riding  and  so  in  need  of  sleep  that  it  was 
only  by  determined  effort  that  I  could  keep  my 
eyes  open.  Several  times  I  roused  to  the  un- 
pleasant conviction  that  I  had  been  asleep  in 
my  saddle.  I  knew  that  would  not  do,  for  I 
well  knew  that  even  in  that  seemingly  quiet 
district  constant  watchfidness  was  needed  and 
that  later  on  fresh  dangers  would  need  fresh- 
ened faculties  and  renewed  energy  to  meet 
them.  So  I  decided  to  allow  myself  an  hour's 
rest. 

As  quick  as  I  found  a  suital>le  place,  Avhich 
I  soon  did  in  the  shape  of  a  narroAV,  rock-hung 
ravine,  Avhieh  branched  olf  at  my  right  hand 
between  t^vo  almost  perpendicular  Avails  of 
mountains,    I    stopped,    and    dismounting,    led 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  45 

my  liorse  in  after  nie.  When  we  had  pene- 
trated several  I'ods  I  tethered  my  horse  ])ehind 
some  bushes,  so  that  he  could  graze,  and 
crawled  into  a  leaf  cushioned  hole  between 
two  rocks. 

I  have  always  had  the  faculty  of  waking 
at  any  predetermined  time,  and  w^hen  I  roused 
from  a  heavy  sleep  of  exhaustion  I  had  ex- 
ceeded my  hour's  allowance  by  only  ten  min- 
utes. 

Passino;  cautiously  down  the  ravine  before 
leaving  its  shelter,  I  tried  to  make  sure  by 
observation  from  a  rock  up  the  bank  that 
there  were  no  obstacles  in  view.  A  little 
spring  a  short  way  down  the  road  made  a 
most  inviting  halting  place  and  I  did  not  want 
to  start  out  if  it  chanced  to  be  occupied.  As 
the  coast  was  clear,  I  Avas  soon  on  my  way,  and 
having  the  benefit  of  a  fair  road,  made  good 
time. 

As  I  turned  a  sharp  corner  I  involuntarily 
drew   a  quick  breath  at  the  scene  before  me. 


46  THE    LOST    DISPATCH. 

My  suiToiiiidings  were  wild  in  the  extreme.  I 
was  riding  along  a  limestone  ridge,  which 
jutted  out  from  the  wall  of  mountains  behind. 
Looking  down  I  saw  before  me  dark,  dense 
forests  covering  lesser  elevations.  Looking  up 
toward  my  right  the  rock-ci'ested  mountains 
were  outlined  against  a  clear  sky,  from  which 
the  sun  had  just  disappeared  behind  their  fan- 
tastic peaks.  As  I  gazed,  the  sun  sinking- 
lower,  left  the  depths  at  my  left  in  twilight, 
the  ravines  became  black  lines  and  the  thick 
o-rowth  of  cedar  and  other  trees  fringfincj-  them 
looked  only  a  shade  less  sombre.  The  whole 
picture  was  one  of  dee23  solitude  and  wild 
grandeur. 

Since  the  dissolving  view  of  Southei*ners  to 
which  I  had  been  treated  I  had  not  seen  a 
human    soul.     Ahead    of  me    about  ten  miles 

was  the  village  of  J and    as    all    seemed 

quiet,  I  decided  to  stop  there,  if  nothing  turned 
up  in  the  meantime,  and  get  supper  and  some 
imformation  by  which  to  shape  my  plans  for 
the  next  day. 


THE    LOST    DISPATCH.  47 

The  niglit,  unlike  the  previous  one,  was 
beautifully  clear,  and  the  moon,  full  a  few 
nights  before,  was  up  when  I  entered  J . 

I  kne\A'  very  well  ^vhere  a  notorious  Rebel 
b}'  the  name  of  Deputy  lived,  and  thinking  it 
would  do  him  good  to  serve  his  country  for 
once  in  his  life  by  telling  me  what  I  wanted  to 
kno^v,  I  made  my  way  toward  his  house,  which 
stood  near  the  center  of  the  village. 

I  found  him  swinging  a  tow-headed  boy  on 
the  grate,  the  urchin  shriekinoc  with  delio;ht 
whenever  the  clumsy  thing  came  to  with  a 
clap  that  threatened  to  dislodge  him  from  his 
perch.  As  Deputy  caught  sight  of  me  he 
stopped  that  interesting  occupation  and  was 
ready  to  ply  me  with  questions  before  I  had 
drawn  rein.  He  took  me  for  one  of  Leonard's 
men  at  once,  which  gave  me  a  hint  that  they, 
if  not  already  in  the  vicinity,  were    expected. 

I  fostered  his  mistake  and  told  him  that  I 
was  one  of  a  foraging  party  sent  on  ahead  and 
that  I  had  lost  my  way.     This  information  was 


48  THhJ    LOST    DTS PATCH. 

rewarded  by  a  cordial  invitation  to  ''  light  and 
take  supper/^  Going  up  to  the  open  door  he 
called  to  some  one  inside: 

''Say,  Sallie,  hurry  up  supper,  one  of  our 
boys  is   a   stoppin'.'' 

Cominof  back  he  put  down  a  jj^ood  l)undle  of 
fodder  and  soiue  oats  for  my  horse  outside  the 
gate.  I  followed  him  in  to  the  supper  he  had 
called  his  wife  to  hurry  up  for  me. 

I  gave  that  man  more  news  about  what  had 
happened  down  below  than  he  had  liad  for  a 
lonof  time.  I  did  not  care  a  hard  tack  about 
keeping  to  facts  and  no  punctilio  prevented  me 
from  arranofino;  the  stories  to  suit  his  taste.  In 
return  he  told  me  all  he  kne\v  about  the  late 
movements  of  troops,  and  as  he  had  just  re- 
turned   that    afternoon    from    M ,    he    was 

pretty  well  posted  in  affairs  across  the  river. 
Returning  to  the  immediate  vicinity,  I  soon 
discovered  that  the  country  in  the  direction  I 
was  going  was  clear.  I  did  not  care  what  high 
jinks  they  cut  up  down  the  other  way  just  then, 
as  long  as  I  was  not  detained. 


THE    LOST    DISPATCH.  49 

I  also  learned  that  word  had  been  hrouo^ht  in 
that  afternoon  that  General  Leonard  and  his 
troops  were  to  pass  through  the  town  Vjefore 
morning,  and  that  the  red-hot  Rebels  which 
made  up  the  population  were  planning  to  give 
them  a  loyal  reception. 

I  was  tinishing  an  excellent  cup  of  coffee 
when  a  shout  from  the  little  fellow  at  the  gate 
took  Deputy  out.  I  heard  a  call  or  two  and 
some  hasty  talking  with  passers  by,  then 
Deputy  entered,  much  excited. 

"  Lucky  for  you,  some  of  Leonard's  troops 
are  just  crossing  the  bridge  and  some  in  ad- 
vance have  already  stopped  on  the  Square," 
was  his  astounding  announcement. 

"  Sure  it's  not  some  of  the  Yankees  ? ''  I 
asked. 

''  You  bet  it  ain't ;  Jim  Buckner  came  in 
with  them  and  that  man  I  was  talkin'  to  was 
Bill  Stiver,  hurryin'  down  to  tell  Jim's  folks 
to  go  \x^  and  see  him,  because  they  ain't  goin' 
to  'tinner  on  long;." 


50  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

I  did  not  wait  for  a  very  formal  leave  taking. 
With  a  muttered  excuse  about  my  being  obliged 
to  report  at  once,  I  hurried  out,  untied  my 
horse  and  was  off. 

I  could  see  a  crowd  in  front  of  the  tavern 
as  I  passed  into  a  side  street.  When  I  turned 
into  my  road  again  I  struck  into  a  gallop.  As 
I  passed  a  road  running  into  mine  at  an  ol^tuse 
angle,  a  small  squad  of  cavalry  was  coming 
down  it  at  a  leisurely  pace.  I  saw  plainly  in 
the  bright  moonlight  that  there  were  not  more 
than  two  dozen  of  them.  They  sang  out  a 
challenge,  but  I  neither  stopped  or  increased 
my  speed.  Looking  back  I  saw  them  turn 
toward  town  when  they  entered  the  road  I 
was  on. 

They  must  have  had  their  suspicions  roused, 
however,  and  turned  back  almost  immediately, 
for  I  soon  heard  the  sound  of  fast  riding  be- 
hind me.  I  put  my  horse  to  his  best  speed, 
but  he  was  jaded,  while  theirs  were  evidently 
fresh.  The  bullets  soon  came  spattering  against 
the  rocks  and  trees  around  me  with  alarming 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  51 

frequency.  They  certainly  did  their  best  to 
persuade  me  to  stop,  but  did  not  haj)pen  to 
touch  a  spot  to  make  their  coaxing  effectual. 

The  moment  to  lose  my  horse,  which  I  had 
been  anticipating  from  the  first,  had  come  at 
last.  My  pursuers  were  gaining  on  me  and 
the  question  of  which  of  them  should  have 
the  pleasure  of  shooting  me  was  merely  a 
question  of  who  should  hit  first.  They  were 
still  too  far  behind  and  the  moonlight  too  in- 
distinct in  the  narrow  and  wooded  gorge, 
which  the  road  had  just  entered,  for  them  to 
see  me,  but  they  were  drawing  closer  every 
moment.  Freeing  my  feet  from  the  stirrups,  I 
gave  my  horse  a  cut  with  the  whij^  and  slipped 
to  the  ground.  Lightened  of  his  burden  he 
flew  on  with  accelerated  speed,  his  hoofs  ring- 
ing down^the  rocky  road  and  guiding  my  pur- 
suers past  where  I  lay  at  the  Ijottom  of  a 
ravine,  down  the  sides  of  which  I  had  tumbled 
with  celerity  and  a  series  of  somersaults  of 
which  a  circus  rider  need  not  have  been 
ashamed. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

I  was  not  in  a  very  amiable  frame  of  mind 
and  passed  a  bad  quarter  of  an  hour  while  I 
sat  down  there  on  a  stump,  recovering  myself 
and  decidino;  what  to  do  next. 

I  still  had  over  thirty  miles  to  go  and  instead 
of  reaching  my  destination  before  morning,  as 
I  had  just  decided  I  would  be  able  to  do,  I  was 
left  without  a  horse  and  in  very  poor  trim  to 
make  good  speed  on  foot.  However,  I  started 
on,  determined  to  investigate  every  place  along 
my  road  and  get  a  horse  if  possible  without 
leave  or  license,  but  fearing  that  all  not  already 
confiscated  were  in  too  secure  hiding  for  me  to 
unearth.  I  had  some  hope  of  finding  my  own 
poor  beast,  but  it  was  not  realized. 

Every  house  I  came  to  was  dark  and  for- 
saken looking  and  all  the  inmates  seemed  to  be 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  53 

away  or  asleep.  Ev^en  the  clogs  made  no  dis- 
turVjanee,  if  there  were  any  around.  My  search 
in  stables,  sheds  and  pasture  lots  only  took  up 
time,  without  gaining  help,  for  not  a  sign  of  a 
horse  did  I  find. 

At  last,  w^hile  making  a  circuit  to  bring  me 
around  by  the  place  of  a  man  named  Carter, 
thinking  he  might  have  something  left  in  the 
way  of  horseflesh,  as  he  had  a  remarkable 
way  of  holding  on  to  everything  belonging 
to  him,  I  saw^  a  light  in  a  small  cabin  perched 
near  a  road.  I  had  come  on  the  place  from 
the  rear,  as  I  w^as  taking  a  short  cut.  Drawing 
near  with  much  circumspection,  I  could  hear 
the  sound  of  voices  and  laughing.  Evidently 
from  the  noise  a  good  time  of  some  kind  was 
in  progress. 

I  crept  up  in  the  shadow  of  the  house  near 
enough  to  look  around  an  angle  and  see  into 
the  room.  Three  officers  in  Confederate  gray 
were  seated  at  a  table  taking  supper,  and 
laughing  and  joking  with  a  long,  lean  moun- 


54  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

taineer,  who  seemed  to  be  plying  them  with 
(jiiestions,  while  his  wife  served  them.  As  I 
watched,  a  pretty  girl  entered  from  another 
room  with  a  jug  of  cider,  which  she  proceeded 
to  pour  out  into  tumblers.  At  the  sight  of  the 
foaming  liquid  one  of  the  officers  trolled  a 
verse  of  a  rollicking  drinking  song. 

It  did  not  take  me  long  to  conclude  that 
they  must  be  the  very  fellows  who  had  been  in 
such  hot  haste  after  me,  to  infer  that  they 
had  given  over  pursuit  and  that  their  horses 
must  be  somewhere  near.  I  retreated  into  the 
shadow  of  the  trees  and  thus  sheltered  made 
my  way  around  to  the  front  of  the  house.  To 
my  exceeding  joy,  I  found  there  three  slick 
Confederate  steeds  tied  to  the  fence.  I  hastily 
untied  the  halters,  for  while  I  did  not  intend  to 
perform  another  circus  act  by  riding  all  three 
at  once,  I  did  not  care  to  leave  any  behind  to 
aid  in  my  pursuit.  I  led  them  as  gently  as 
possible  down  into  the  road  and  mounted  one, 
a   powerful   black.      The    other    two    at    first 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  55 

made  some  resistance,  but  an  energetic  pull 
or  two  decided  them  to  follow.  The  noise  of 
my  departure  brought  out  the  pleasure-loving 
cavalrymen  in  hot  haste,  but  they  were  not 
quick  enough  to  do  any  effectual  work. 

I  followed  the  obscure,  little -used  road,  on 
which  the  house  stood,  for  a  short  distance, 
then  turning  from  it  I  made  a  cut  between 
two  hills   and    came    out    on    a    road    running 

parallel  with  the  one  I  had  started  from  J 

on.  After  going  several  miles  I  turned  the 
extra  horses  loose  and  they  soon  stopped  to 
graze. 

My  late  acquisition  was  possessed  of  pro- 
digious activity  and  1  soon  made  up  the  time 
I  had  lost.  I  had  no  further  detention  and 
as  the  gray  dawn  again  a2:)peared  I  reached 
my  destination. 

Turning  from  the  road  I  walked  my  horse 
slowly  up  the  w^ide,  tree-lined  avenue  toward 
the  mansion.  Tired  as  I  was  and  interested 
in  but  one  object,  the  deserted,  desolate  appear- 


56  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

ance  of  the  place  impressed  me  deeply,  and  I 
drew  rein  for  a  moment  to  look  around.  I 
knew  the  family  had  been  away  V)nt  a  com- 
paratively short  time,  yet  the  house  and  sur- 
roundings had  already  that  uncared  for,  lonely 
look  that  soon  hangs  over  a  closed  house.  It 
was  the  first  time  I  had  ever  seen  that  wide, 
hospitable  mansion  when  it  was  not  filled  with 
life  and  mirth.  It  was  the  first  time  I  had 
ever  come  to  it  without  receiving  a  warm 
welcome. 

Leaving  the  lawn  in  front,  I  made  my  way 
to  the  quarters  of  the  family  servants  beyond 
the  house.  To  my  surprise  I  found  them 
emj)ty  and  deserted.     I  knew    that  Avhen    the 

family  went  to  G all  except   two    of  the 

servants  had  been  left  behind  and  I  expected 
to  find  them  there.  I  knew  my  aunt  would 
not  leave  without  making  ample  provision  for 
their  comfoi't  and  I  felt  certain  they  were  too 
strongly  attached  to  the  family  to  run  away,  so 
I  could  not  understand  the  vacant  cabins. 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  57 

I  could  not  believe  but  what  some  of  them 
were  still  around  the  place.  I  searched  and 
called  without  unearthing  a  soul,  and  had  just 
I'eturned  from  another  tour  around  the  house, 
and  ^vas  pondering  how  best  to  effect  an  en- 
trance into  it  when  I  caught  sight  of  a  gray- 
head  peeping  out  of  an  oj^ening  in  the  top  of 
the  kitchen,  which  stood  a  few  rods  from  the 
house.  It  was  instantly  withdraw^n,  but  not 
until  I  had  seen  it  Ijelonged  to  Ned,  an  old 
negro  owned  by  my  mother,  but  who  made 
his  home  at  S . 

He  had  evidently  been  watching  me  from  his 
place  of  concealment,  but  had  not  recognized 
me  in  my  rough  clothes.  Going  into  the 
kitchen  it  appeared  as  emj^ty  as  before,  but 
I  finally  discovered  the  frightened  old  negro 
curled  up  on  top  of  a  wide  set  of  shelves 
behind  a  barricade  of  cooking  utensils,  taking 
a  reconnoissance  from  the  ventilator  just  above. 

''  Come  down,  Ned,"  I  called,  but  he  made 
no  sign  of  having  heard. 


58  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

It  was  some  time  before  I  could  convince 
him  who  I  was,  but  as  soon  as  he  could  get 
his  scattered  wits  together  his  delight  was 
unbounded,  and  he  came  down  from  his  ele- 
vated perch  to  an  accompaniment  of  rattling 
tinware. 

I  soon  learned  that  when  my  aunt  found 
she  would  be  detained  indefinitely,  she  had 
sent  back  word  for  all  the  servants  to  go 
to  a  neighl>oring  plantation,  which  they  had 
all  done  with  the  exception  of  Ned,  who  had 
staid  behind  intending  to  make  his  way  to  me 
and  beg  me  to  keep  him  for  my  body  servant, 
an  office  he  had  always  desired. 

While  Ned  prepared  and  served  me  ^vith  a 
breakfast,  which  I  insisted  on  taking  in  the 
kitchen,  he  gave  me  the  family  news  and  told 
me  all  about  the  death  of  his  wife,  which  had 
occurred  a  few  weeks  before. 

After  I  had  finished  my  meal  and  Ned  had 
fed  my  horse,  he  brought  out  the  keys  from 
their  place  of  concealment,  and  if  I  would  have 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  59 

permitted  him  to  do  so,  would  have  thrown 
open  the  whole  house  in  my  honor.  Much  to 
his  disappointment,  I  dared  not  allow  him  to 
unclose  a  single  shutter  or  even  turn  the  slats, 
except  at  the  back  of  the  house.  I  explained 
to  him  that  it  must  still  present  a  closed  ap- 
pearance to  any  chance  observer,  and  that  no 
one  must  know^  that  I  was  there. 

We  entered  the  house  and  proceeded  through 
the  long,  dusky  hall  and  up  the  wide  stairs  to 
the  second  story.  After  Ned  had  gathered 
everything  necessary  to  my  comfort  into  the 
room    which    I    occupied   whenever    I    was    at 

8 ,  and  which  was  always  left  undisturbed 

in  my  absence,  he  left  me. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Weary  as  I  was  I  yet  had  something  to  do 
before  I  could  take  the  needed  rest,  which 
every  atom  in  my  jaded  frame  was  loudly 
demanding:. 

The  time  had  come  to  test  the  feasibility  of 
the  j)lan  which  had  flashed  into  my  mind  as  I 
sat  in  General  Foster's  tent,  and  which  I  had 
thought  ov^er  and  elaborated  along  the  way. 

When  the  idea  first  entered  my  head  that  I 
could  personate  my  cousin  Salome,  enter  the 
enemy's  lines,  meet  her  Rel)el  lover,  and  from 
him  learn  what  the  enemy  were  going  to  do, 
and  by  my  own  eyes  determine  the  strength 
and  position  of  their  forces,  I  had  only  thought 
what  a  huge  joke  it  would  be.  Had  General 
Foster  returned  at  once  the  idea  might  have 
died  without  further  growth,  but  in  the  time  of 


THE    LOST    DTSPATCH.  fil 

waiting  I  had  idly  thought  over  and  over  how 
easily  it  could  be  done,  and  planned  this  and 
that  detail  until  finally  the  project  seized  a  firm 
hold  of  me,  and  I  had  determined,  hazardous  as 
it  was,  to  attempt  it. 

None  knew  better  than  I  the  dangers  sur- 
rounding such  a  trip,  but  I  realized  our  need 
of  reliable  information  to  take  the  place  of 
the  flying  rumors  that  could  not  be  trusted, 
and  well  I  knew  that  I  would  stand  every 
chance  of  succeeding  where  others  had  failed. 
My  love  of  adventure,  my  ambition,  my  duty 
to  my  country,  all  urged  me  on.  There  was 
nothing  to  weigh  against  the  last. 

I  was  acquainted  with  every  inch  of  the 
country.  1  had  gone  more  times  than  I  can 
number  up  and  down  both  sides  the  river,  to 
and  from  Washington  and  places  in  the  vicin- 
ity. I  was  almost  as  much  at  home  at  several 
places  near  Hagerstown  and  Frederick  as  I  was 
at  S ,  and  every  inch  of  the  country  be- 
tween was  familiar  to  me.     I  had  hunted  over 


62  THE    LOST   DTS PATCH. 

it  and  knew  every  cross  road  and  rabbit  path, 
every  short  cut  and  ford,  and  I  was  well  aware 
that  I  could  baffle  pursuit  from  an  enemy  not 
so  entirely  familiar  with  the  country. 

I  had  no  fear  but  what  I  could  successfully 
personate  my  cousin.  My  cousin  Salome  and  I 
were  within  a  few  months  of  the  same  age. 
She  had  but  one  sister  and  I  was  an  only  child. 
We  had  been  together  so  much  that  we  rpiite 
looked  on  ourselves  as  brother  and  sistei',  and  I 
think  our  affection  was  strengthened  by  the  ex- 
ceedingly strong  likeness  we  bore  each  other. 
So  strono;  was  the  resemblance  that  when  chil- 
dren  we  were  constantly  taken  by  strangers  not 
only  for  brother  and  sister,  but  for  twins. 
One  of  the  favorite  pranks  of  my  boyhood 
had  been  to  don  one  of  Salome's  dresses,  and 
answerino^  the  first  call  made  for  her,  deceive 
even  her  own  mother,  until  a  closer  view 
proved  the  fraud. 

Since  Salome  had  grown  to  the  dignity  of 
long  dresses  and  done  up  hair,  and  I  to  long 


THE    LOST    DISPATCH.  63 

tailed  eoats,  the  resemblance  was  not  so  strik- 
ing, and  I,  not  liking  to  look  so  much  like  a 
girl,  had  done  all  I  could  to  make  it  less  so. 

Only  the  Christmas  before,  however,  when 

we   had    all    been    together   at  S ,  ( I  had 

not  then  joined  the  Union  army),  Salome  and 
I  had  arrayed  ourselves  as  two  old  ladies,  with 
close-fitting,  lace-frilled  caps,  and  it  had  been  a 
long  time  before  any  one  could  decide  w^hich 
was  which,  although  all  the  company  present 
had  known  us  both  from  childhood. 

I  had  never  met  Captain  DeLacy.  He  had 
been  a  stranger  to  Salome  until  they  had  met 
three  months  before  at  the  White  Sulphur, 
where  he  was  staying  to  recover  from  a  wound. 
It  was  a  case  of  genuine  love  at  first  sight,  and 
the  enc]!;ao;ement  had  been  contracted  on  the  eve 
of  his  departure  for  his  regiment.  At  that 
time  I  had  just  entered  the  Federal  army  and 
Salome  was  feeling  very  sore  over  it,  so  I  was 
pretty  certain  she  had  never  confided  to  him 
that  she  had  a  cousin  ficrhtinof  aofainst  him, 
or  indeed  told  him  anything  about  me. 


64  THE    LO^T    DTSPATCH. 

I  had  learned  in  Washington  that  Captain 
DeLacy  was  with  Dare's  division,  which  had 
crossed  the  Potomac  with  Luce.  My  plan  was 
to  make  my  way  across  the  Potomac,  find  the 
whereabouts  of  Dare's  division,  make  my  way 
beyond  it,  assume  my  disguise  and  turn  l)ack 
toward  the  river  so  as  to  approach  the  Rebel 
lines  after  dark.  I  knew  I  would  l)e  stopped 
as  soon  as  I  encountered  the  first  Confederate 
soldiers  and  an  exhibition  of  my  pass  de- 
manded. I  would  account  for  its  absence  by 
saying  I  had  lost  it.  When  *  permission  to 
proceed  was  refused,  as  I  knew  it  would  be, 
I  would  insist  on  going  on  and  finally  de- 
mand an  interview  with  Captain  DeLacy  to 
prove  my  identity. 

Once  in  his  presence,  I  had  little  doul)t 
but  that  I  could  pass  myself  off  for  Salome.  I 
would  tell  him  I  had  been  called  to  New  York 
by  the  illness  of  my  sister  and  was  trying  to 
get  back  home,  which  would  be  a  plausible 
story  and  not  likely  to  be  questioned. 


THE    LOST   BTSPATCII.  65 

I  knew  I  would  have  to  run  great  risks. 
There  would  be  first  and  always  a  chance  of 
being  picked  up  and  summarily  finished  in  an 
unprepared  moment.  There  would  be  the 
possibility  that  Captain  DeLacy  had  been 
sent  on  temporary  dut}^  to  some  other  point 
than  that  where  I  expected  to  find  him.  And 
if  I  found  him,  there  would  be  a  chance  of 
his  having  received  a  late  letter  from  Salome, 
which  would  prove  my  story  a  falsehood.  Of 
the  latter,  however,  I  did  not  think  there 
would  be  much  danger.  In  our  army  orders 
had  gone  into  eftect  some  days  previous  that 
no  letters  or  papers  of  any  kind  should  be  sent 
or  received.  It  was  most  likely  that  mail  was 
equally  scarce  among  the  Rebels. 

I  thouo'ht  it  would  be  strano^e  if  I  did  not 
gleam  a  few  facts,  which  would  be  of  use  to  us, 
during  my  interview  with  Captain  DeLacy  and 
during  the  time  required  to  make  my  way  in 
and  out  of  the  Confederate  camp,  wherever  it 
might  prove  to  be. 


66  THE   LOST   DISPATCH. 

I  left  my  chamber  and  made  my  way  through 
the  darkened  hall  to  the  family  rooms  at  the 
front  of  the  house,  my  footsteps  sounding  loud 
in  the  unaccustomed  stillness.  Determined  as 
I  was  to  do  what  I  had  planned,  I  involunta- 
rily hesitated  a  moment  before  I  opened  the 
first  closed  door,  then  shakins:  off  the  feelins:  of 
reluctance,  I  went  on  with  my  work. 

A  search  of  Salome's  and  my  aunt's  rooms 
soon  secured  me  an  outfit  sufficient  for. my  pur- 
pose— a  dark  dress,  several  white  petticoats,  a 
pair  of  shoes,  a  long,  black  cloak  and  an  em- 
broidered neck  scarf,  which  I  had  often  seen 
Salome  wear,  also  a  heavy  black  veil  and  a 
pair  of  gloves,  odorous  with  the  perfume 
Salome  always  had  about  her.  I  carried  the 
clothes  to  my  room  to  try  the  effect. 

After  putting  on  the  other  things  I  muffled 
my  head  in  the  veil.  The  disguise  was  perfect. 
Even  I  was  startled  for  a  moment,  so  precisely 
did  I  look  like  Salome.  I  had  drawn  the  veil 
enough   over   my   face  to  entirely  conceal  my 


THE    LOST   DTSPATCiL  67 

short  hair  and  had  contrived  to  fasten  the 
curl  of  Salome's,  which  I  always  carried  with 
me,  to  an  inner  fold  in  such  a  way  that  it 
showed  below  it  at  the  left  side,  in  exact  imita- 
tion of  the  way  Salome  had  worn  one  when  I 
had  last  seen  her. 

My  training  had  left  me  deeply  tinctured 
wath  the  idea  that  an  army  officer  must  have 
no  inconvenient  emotions,  but  I  then  and  there, 
early  in  my  career,  proved  that  they  do.  It 
was  absurd,  but  I  could  have  wept.  Salome's 
exact  imao;e  looked  back  at  me  from  the 
mirror,  and  an  intense  lono^ino;  to  take  the 
deceiving  reflection  \\\io  my  arms  came  over 
me.  For  a  moment  I  lost  all  the  pride  and 
valor  of  a  son  of  Mars.  I  was  only  a  very 
ordinary  mortal,  to  whom  the  war  was  hateful 
in  the  extreme.  I  had  no  more  ambition  than 
an  assistant  company  cook. 

It  did  not  last  long.  I  swallowed  away  at 
the  wretched  lump  in  my  throat  and  looked  at 
myself,  as  reflected,  with  the  critical  eye  of  a 
person  trying  to  penetrate  a  disguise. 


68  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

I  could  pick  no  flaw  and  was  soon  viewing 
myself  ^vith  much  complacency,  for  my  exceed- 
ingly ladylike  appearance  meant  that  success 
was  nominally  certain. 

During  that  trip  was  the  only  time  I  ever 
blessed  my  then  slight  form  and  effeminate 
voice.  Hard  service  during  the  war  and  years 
of  army  life  on  our  Western  frontier  since,  have 
changed  all  that,  and  lost  me  every  trace  of 
that  hated  "  prettiness,"  which  at  that  time  had 
gained  me  from  my  associates  the  sobriquet  I 
so  detested,  and  caused  me  so  much  genuine 
anguish  of  soul  and  many  downfalls  of  pride. 

Fully  satisfied,  I  divested  myself  of  my  bor- 
rowed apparel  and  darkening  the  windows, 
just  as  the  sun  rose  over  the  mountains,  I  was 
soon  oblivious  to  everything  around  me. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

I  was  conscious  of  nothing  more  until  Ned's 
voice  sounded  in  my  ears.  I  had  ordered  him 
to  waken  me  at  ten  o'clock,  no  matter  how 
soundly  I  was  sleeping  or  how  much  I  might 
expostulate  with  him  at  the  time.  I  guess  the 
poor  fellow  did  have  a  rather  hard  time  awak- 
ening me.  Being  on  a  civilized  bed  seemed 
to  have  obliterated  the  feeling  of  caution  which 
had  kept  me  on  the  qui  vive  since  the  be- 
ginning of  my  trip,  and  his  voice  in  my  ears 
at  first  roused  me  only  to  a  semi -consciousness 
and  faint  impression  of  my  surroundings,  so 
accustomed  was  I  to  Ned's  lingering  awaken- 
ings. Not  until  his  "  Mars,  you  done  said  I 
wuz  ter  get  you  up,  acaus'  dis  yer  wa' "  finally 
penetrated  my  dull  ears  did  he  rouse  me  effec- 
tually to  present  circumstances. 

69 


70  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

While  thinking  over  my  arrangements  as  I 
was  dressing,  I  determined  on  taking  Ned  with 
me.  It  was  the  one  additional  item  needed  to 
perfect  the  plan  I  had  originated,  and  I  won- 
dered that  I  had  not  thought  of  it  before. 

Ned  belonged  to  our  family,  but  during  one 

of  our  long  visits  at  S he  had  married  a 

girl  on  a  neighboring  place  and  on  our  return 
home  had  been  left  behind.  A  high  price  had 
been  offered  for  the  girl,  considerable  more 
than  she  was  worth,  but  her  master  would 
not    part  with  her,  so   Ned    had    staid    on    at 

S from  year  to  year.     I  doubt  if  he  would 

have  been  willing  to  remain  had  we  not  been 
there  so  often,  for  he  was  deeply  and  honestly 
attached  to  our  family. 

He  was  a  particularly  shrewd  and  intelligent 
old  negro,  and  I  well  knew  that  I  could  trust 
him  to  any  extent.  He  would  die  rather  than 
betray  me  or  any  secret  information  I  might 
find  necessary  to  entrust  to  him.  His  in- 
telligence, quickness  of  wit  and  caution  would 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  71 

likely  enaV)le  him  to  get  out  of  any  ordinary 
danger  or  emergency  that  presented  itself.  To 
have  him  along  would  somewhat  lessen  my 
chances  of  escaping  observation  on  the  way, 
but  he  would  add  much  to  my  disguise  when 
amonsr  the  Confederates. 

Few,  if  any,  outside  the  two  families  knew 

but  what  he  belonged  to  the  S plantation. 

He  had  made  several  trips  with  my  aunt  and 
cousin  during  the  past  two  years  and  had 
been  with  them  at  the  Springs.  I  knew  that 
Captain  DeLacy  would  recognize  him  again 
and  that  it  would  seem  quite  proper  to  him,  or 
any  person  whom  we  should  meet,  that  he  had 
accompanied  his  young  mistress. 

I  did  justice  to  the  dinner  which  Ned,  with 
great  pride  in  his  exhibition  of  culinary  skill, 
had  ready  for  me  when  I  went  down.  I  then 
told  him  where  I  was  going  and  for  what.  He 
was  horror  struck  at  first  and  went  off  into 
lamentations,  bemoaning  these  troublous  times 
and  prophesying  that  I  would  never  get  there 


72  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

and  back  alive.  But  he  gradually  became 
used  to  the  idea  and  was  soon  Ijegging  me  to 
take  him  along.  As  I  had  already  decided 
to  do  so,  I  was  glad  to  have  him  get  around 
to  the  proposition  himself,  and  readily  gave 
my  consent. 

I  gave  him  a  minute  account  of  all  that  had 
occurred  since  I  left  the  Capital.  I  thought 
wise  to  do  this  in  order  to  make  him  familiar 
with  what  he  w^ould  be  likely  to  meet  with 
after  we  started,  and  I  explained  fully  to  him 
what  I  wanted  to  do,  how  I  wanted  to  do  it, 
and  how  1  might  have  to  do  it,  going  into  full 
details.  I  was  much  pleased  at  the  correct 
grasp  he  seemed  to  get  of  the  matter  and  felt 
I  could  dismiss  all  apprehension  on  his  score. 

We  were  to  go  on  horseback.  If  possible 
we  were  to  keep  together,  but  if  necessary  we 
were  to  separate  at  any  time  ^vithout  any  delay 
and  neither  Avas  to  pay  any  attention  whatever 
to  the  safety  of  the  other.  I  explained  to  him 
that,  except  when   I  was  personating  Salome, 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  73 

any  display  of  concern  on  his  part  about  me 
would  only  increase  my  danger,  and  that  in 
case  we  unexpectedly  fell  in  with  any  troops 
on  the  road,  he  must  act  as  if  I  were  a  total 
stranger  whom  he  had  just  met,  unless  he  first 
heard  me  make  a  direct  statement  to  the  con- 
trary. 

Ned  knew,  as  well  as  I,  that  he  run  but  slight 
risks  of  being  interfered  with.  At  that  time 
the  Confederates  paid  but  little  attention  to 
the  coming  and  going  of  the  negroes.  They 
AV'cre  allowed  to  move  from  place  to  place, 
and  run  in  and  out  the  lines  without  ques- 
tion or  detention,  and  their  queries  made  from 
curiosity  excited  no  distrust.  Ned  also  was 
aware  that  he  would  have  no  trouble  in  get- 
ting a  pass  on  any  slight  pretext  if  he  should 
need  one. 

I  gave  him  a  number  of  places  along  the 
way,  where  we  were  to  meet  after  any  en- 
forced separation  if  Ave  could,  but  if  by  so 
doing  either  of  us  incurred  the  slightest   risk 


74  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

or  delay,  we  were  each  to  make  our  way 
separately  to  a  point  which  I  named  and 
which  I  felt  confident  was  beyond  the  invad- 
ing troops.  I  was  to  wait  there  until  as  late 
as  nine  oVdock  that  night  for  Ned,  but  in  case 
he  reached  there  iirst  he  was  to  stay  until  I 
came,  unless  I  did  not  get  there  for  three 
days,  thus  allowing  for  my  possible  capture, 
detention  and  escape.  I  also  told  him  on 
what  points  I  wanted  him  to  get  informa- 
tion, by  observation  or  in  any  other  way 
possilde. 

From  my  entertainer  of  the  night  before,  I 
had  learned  enough  about  the  movements  of 
Luce's  army  to  enable  me  to  block  out  my 
plans  with  a  considerable  degree  of  confidence. 
If  I  did  not  know  exactly  where  the  particular 
division  I  wanted  to  strike  was,  I  knew  where 
it  was  not,  and  that  was  a  good  deal. 

Events  sometimes  follow  each  other  with 
startling  rapidity,  but  if  no  unusual  hurry 
had  occurred  I  felt  quite  sure  my  destination 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  75 

would  be  l)etween  t^V()  points,  and  not  more 
than  twenty  miles  hack  from  the  river.  More 
explicit  information  as  to  their  precise  loca- 
tion must  be  obtained  on  the  way,  also  exact 
knowledge  as  to  Captain  DeLacy's  where- 
al)outs. 

All  the  preparation  Ned  made  was  to 
hide  his  few  valuables  and  securely  close 
the  house.  This  done,  he  was  ready  to  follow 
me  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  if  need  be. 

It  was  barely  twelve  oVlock  when  we  started 
on  our  way.  Ned  rode  the  horse  he  had  pro- 
vided in  anticipation  of  coming  to  me.  The 
clothes  had  been  done  up  into  a  compact  roll, 
with  the  cloak  outside,  in  order  to  look  as 
much  like  a  rolled -up  blanket  as  possible,  and 
I  carried  them  like  a  huge  rag  baby  on  the 
saddle  in  front  of  me.  I  did  not  dare  either 
trust  them  to  Ned  or  fasten  them  to  my  saddle. 
I  might  have  to  part  ^vith  either,  or  both  negro 
and  horse  on  any  sudden  emero-encv,  but  I  was 
determined  to  hold  onto  and  make  use  of  my 
disguise  unless  death  or  ca23ture  prevented  me 


76  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

For  obvious  reasons  we  avoided  all  well- 
traveled  roads  and  made  our  way  through 
fields,  along  lanes,  and  as  much  as  possible  in 
the  shelter  of  the  timber.  Our  route  was 
through  a  well-settled  country  until  we  neared 
the  river.  AVe  crossed  it  by  a  ford  that  was 
little  known  and  seldom  used,  but  at  that 
time,  I,  like  the  illustrious  Susan,  did  not 
care  for  a  crowd. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

It  was  nearly  six  o'clock  when  we  finally 
reached  the  point  where  I  thought  I  could 
safely  commence  my  retrograde  movement. 
As  soon  as  I  would  turn  to  the  right,  the 
division  of  Luce's  army  I  wanted  to  reach 
would  lay  directly  between  the  place  I  would 
be  then  and  the  Potomac.  During  the  last  of 
our  rid^  I  had,  by  a  bold  move  or  two,  man- 
aged to  get  very  definite  knowledge  of  the 
disposition  of  the  Rebel  troops  in  the  vicin- 
ity, and  by  a  lucky  accident,  during  an  en- 
forced separation,  Ned  had  discovered  almost 
to  a  certainty  that  Captain  DeLacy  was  where 
I  had  thought  him.  We  had  also  in  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon  each  secured  a  fresh 
horse,  and  by  far  greater  good  fortune  than 
I    had   dared   hope   for,    they   were    fine,    un- 

77 


78  THE   LOST   DISPATCH. 

jaded  animals.  That  we  took  them  without 
leave  or  license  troubled  us  not  a  bit. 

Looking  back  now,  it  seems  strange  that  we 
were  able  to  make  our  way  as  rapidly  as  we 
did  through  that  section,  filled  as  it  was  with 
troops,  without  being  taken  prisoner,  scientifi- 
cally bushwhacked,  or  picked  off  by  a  sharp- 
shooter. 

A  number  of  times  we  did  barely  escape 
encounters  which  would  have  cost  us  dear. 
About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  we  had 
come  near  running  into  a  body  of  the  Rebel 
troops.  We  were  on  a  hill  not  far  from  a  road 
running  directly  northwest,  when  through  an 
opening  in  the  trees  there  l)ecame  visible  a 
cloud  of  dust,  which  meant  either  sheep  or 
Rebels.  Taking  into  consideration  time,  place 
and  circumstances,  I  knew  the  chances  were 
that  it  meant  Rebels.  Dismounting  I  ordered 
Ned  to  take  the  horses  and  himself  into  con- 
cealment in  an  adjacent  ravine,  and  I  made 
my   way   to    a  large   tree   I    had    noticed    for 


THE    LOST   msPATcn.  79 

some  time.  It  bad  been  used  by  one  side 
or  the  other  as  a  signal  station,  and  I  thought 
it  possible  that  it  commanded  a  good  view  of 
the  road  along  which  the  dust  was  advancing. 
It  did,  and  I  soon  felt  I  was  up  a  tree  men- 
tally, as  well  as  physically. 

The  extent  of  the  knowledo;e  I  o;ained  was 
that  a  move  of  some  kind  was  on  foot,  which 
I  did  not  understand.  I  was  near  enouo-h  to 
have  thrown  a  stone  down  on  the  moving 
column,  and  I  could  recognize  General  Mid- 
dlesworth  riding  with  his  staff.  Why  he 
was  angling  away  from  the  main  part  of 
Luce's  army  and  toward  the  Potomac  puz- 
zled me,  and  at  a  time  when  I  did  not  care  to 
solve  any  more  enigmas  than  absolutely  neces- 
sary. What  General  Middlesworth's  move 
meant  occupied  my  thoughts  off  and  on  all 
afternoon,  as  none  of  the  intelligence  I  man- 
aged to  gather  could  be  made  to  explain  it, 
and  I  determined  to  find  out  all  about  it 
when  in  the  Eebel  camp  if  possible. 


80  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

Before  turning  back  in  the  direction  of  the 
Potomac  I  gave  our  horses  a  short  rest.  They 
had  made  remarkable  o^ood  time  and  thouo-h 
comparatively  fresh,  they  would,  after  we  got 
beyond  the  Rebel  lines  again,  have  to  be 
pushed  to  the  full  extent  of  their  endurance. 

Besides,  I  did  not  care  to  start  back  too  soon, 
for   I   wanted   it  to   be  dark  when  we  would 

reach    the    vicinity    of    T .      I    knew    the 

moon  would  not  rise  that  night  until  a  little 
after  eight,  and  between  dusk  and   that    time 

I  had  planned  to  get  beyond  T ,  procure 

a  vehicle  of  some  kind  and  assume  my  dis- 
guise. That  done,  I  was  ready  to  encounter 
the  enemy  at  any  time,  although  I  aimed  to 
run  against  them  later  and  further  on.  Ned 
made  an  excursion  into  a  neio;hl)orino;  field 
and  brought  back  some  feed  for  the  horses. 
As  soon  as  they  finished  their  meal  we 
started. 

Ned  soon  suggested  that  we  might  find  a 
conveyance  that  would  answer  our  purpose  at 


THE    LOST   mSPATCIL  81 

Goodhue's,  a  place  on  our  left  a  little  ways  off. 
We  made  our  way  there,  taking  a  short  cut 
and  a  rough  road  through  a  lane,  which  ap- 
proached the  place  from  the  rear.  The  house, 
which  faced  a  road  beyond,  looked  deserted, 
but  we  did  not  go  near  enough  to  be  certain. 

The  stables  stood  off  by  themselves  and  we 
were  well  enough  satisfied  not  to  find  anyone 
around  them  and  did  not  investigate  further. 
The  carriage  and  horses  were  gone,  but  we 
found  a  good  set  of  harness  and  an  old  fash- 
ioned light  buggy,  which  suited  our  purpose 
admirably  and  were  all  we  needed.  We  had 
left  our  horses  in  the  woods  across  the  lane. 
I  went  on  ahead  to  reconnoiter.  Ned  fol- 
lowed, pulling  the  Iniggy. 

By  the  time  I  was  arrayed  in  my  disguise 
Ned  had  the  horses  harnessed  to  the  buggy 
and  my  clothes  and  the  saddles  and  bridles 
stowed  compactly  away  under  the  buggy  seat. 
It  was  an  extra  piece  of  luck  finding  a  vehicle 
so  near,  for  I   could   not  assume  my    disguise 


82  THE   LOST   DISPATCH. 

until  one  had  been  procured,  but  now,  instead 

of  going  around  T ,  I  could  pass  directly 

tbrougli  tlie  village,  which  saved  considerable 
time. 

I  had  on  starting  from  S forbade  Ned 

to  address  me  except  as  Miss  Salome,  for  I 
was  afraid  if  he  did  not  have  some  practice 
he  would  in  any  sudden  fright  forget  and  let 
slip  the  "  Mars,"  which  would  be  sure  to 
rouse  suspicion.  I  impressed  on  him  that  he 
must,  until  we  were  through  with  the  rather 
unpleasant  affair  before  us,  act  as  if  I  were 
in  reality  his  young  mistress,  whom  he  was 
trying  to  get  safely  to  her  home,  and  protect 
to  the  best  of  his  ability  in  a  dangerous  and 
unsettled  country. 

It  was  a  decided  chancre  in  our  mode  of 
progression  for  us  to  be  speeding  along  over 
good  roads  in  a  comfortable  buggy  and  not 
actually  shunning  observation,  as  I  had  been 
obliged  to  do  until  then.  But  while  it  was  a 
rest,  it  was  the  kind  of  a  rest  one  experiences 


THE   LOST   DISPATCH.  83 

when  awaiting  a  surgical  operation,  wliicli  is 
to  commence  as  soon  as  the  surgeon  comes, 
the  exact  moment  of  his  arrival  having  been 
left  mercilessly  indefinite. 


CHAPTER  X. 

"  Hi,  Miss  Salome,  look  dar,"  whispered  Ned 
suddenly. 

We  had  been  drivino^  for  some  time  at  full 
speed  when  Ned's  low  tones  roused  me  from 
an  imaginary  conversation  with  the  Caj)tain. 

"  Where  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Over  dar,''  he  returned,  pointing  toward 
his  left,  around  the  curve  we  were  just 
making. 

A  short  distance  ahead,  in  an  open  space 
between  the  road  and  the  heavy  timber  be- 
yond, I  saw  the  light  of  camp  fires  and  a  few 
moving  figures  showing  dark  against  the  glow, 
while  a  dark  mass  at  one  side  looked  like 
horses  and  wagons. 

Telling  Ned  to  drive  over  toward  them  and 
ask  the  way  to  General  Dare's   headquarters, 

84 


THE   LOST   DISPATCn.  85 

as  soon  as  we  came  abreast  of  the  nearest 
groups,  I  scanned  the  surroundings,  anxiously 
trying  to  determine  what  we  had  run  into.  I 
had  not  expected  to  meet  any  Confederates  for 
two  or  three  miles  yet.  But  I  knew  it  could 
not  be  any  of  our  own  troops,  for  we  were  too 
near  the  Rebels  for  that.  As  we  approached 
closer  I  saw  several  officers  in  gray  grouped 
around  a  fire  and  about  a  dozen  men  cook- 
ing supper  at  other  fires  a  little  apart  and 
nearer  us.  It  looked  like  a  topographical 
camp  or  something  of  that  sort. 

One  of  the  men,  who  seemed  to  be  doing  a 
sort  of  picket  duty,  and  broiling  a  bit  of  bacon 
on  the  end  of  his  ramrod  at  the  same  time, 
started  up  as  soon  as  he  saw  us  driving  up  and 
demanded  what  we  wanted. 

Ned  told  him  we  were  trying  to  get  to  Gen- 
eral Dare's  headquarters  and  asked  where  they 
were,  ):)ut  before  he  had  time  to  reply  one  of 
the  officers  advanced  toward  us,  and  Ned  re- 
peated his  question   to   him.     Before   answer- 


86  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

ing  the  officer  asked  us  a  number  of  questions 
as  to  where  we  were  going  and  where  we  were 
from,  eyeing  us  keenly  all  the  time,  then  drew 
off  a  little  ways  to  confer  with  one  of  the  other 
officers.  They  were  near  enough  for  me  to 
catch  most  of  their  conversation. 

"  It's  all  right,  I  believe,"  said  the  one  who 
had  been  talking  to  us,  ''  or  they  would  want 
to  go  the  other  way.*" 

**Only  a  feint  most  probably,^'  replied  the 
last  comer  and  older  of  the  two.  "They  may 
be  spies  and,  as  soon  as  they  are  out  of  sight, 
whirl  off  in  another  direction.  There  really 
does  not  seem  to  be  anything  very  suspicious 
about  them  I  must  say,''  he  added  ;  "still  it 
might  be  wise  to  detain  them  here  until  morn- 
ing." 

"I  think  they  are  just  what  they  say  they 
are,"  returned  the  first  officer. 

Just  as  I  was  wondering  if  it  would  not  be 
best  to  make  a  run  and  leave  them  to  decide 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  87 

at  their  leisure  whether  or  not  we  were  spies, 
one  of  the  men  passing,  called  out  : 

''Hello,  Ned,"  and  stopped. 

Ned  gave  something  between  a  grin  and  a 
gasj)  in  return.  Then,  stooping  over  as  if  to 
untangle  the  reins,  he  whispered  barely  loud 
enough  for  me  to  hear  :     •'  It's  Mars  Furbish. 

He  lived  ober  dar  at  E ,  and  knowed  Miss 

Salome.'' 

I  caught  the  clue  the  quick-witted  old  negro 
had  given  me,  and  leaning  forward,  addressed 
a  polite  "  Good  evening,  Mr.  Furbish,"  to  the 
man  I  had  never  seen  before.  He  jjuUed  off 
his  cap  in  return. 

''I  am  very  anxious  to  get  on  without  de- 
lay," I  added.  "Will  you  kindly  tell  those 
gentlemen  who  I  am  I  I  think  you  can  assure 
them  I  am  not  a  spy." 

His  action  had  been  noticed  by  the  officers, 
and  as  I  spoke,  they  called  him  over  to  them. 

"  Do  you  know  that  lady  ! "  I  heard  them 
ask. 


88  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

"  Yes,  and  the  nigger  too.     It^s  Miss  Salome 

Poillon,    and    she    lives    at    8 plantation, 

across  the  riyer,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Then  she  is  a  resident  here,  and  there  is 
no  danger  of  their  being  spies  ? "  put  in  the 
cautious  one. 

'^  Lord,  no  !  Why,  she's  the  biggest  Rebel 
'round.  So's  all  the  family,  an'  she's  got  a 
Rebel  lover,"  replied  my  champion  emphati- 
cally, adding  the  last  fact  as  if  it  were  a 
clincher. 

That  settled  it,  and  the  two  officers  then 
came  over  to  the  carriage  and  told  me  I  was 
at  liberty  to  go  on,  and  regretted  that  they  had 
been  obliged  to  stop  me  at  all.  I  thanked 
them,  and  asked  if  I  would  have  much  diffi- 
culty in  getting  through. 

"  I  am  afraid  so,"  replied  the  one  who  had 
first  met  me. 

"  This  is  your  most  direct  route,  is  it  not  ? " 
asked  the  older  officer,  on  whom  the  rest  of 
the  conversation  devolved. 

"  It  is  much  the  nearest  way,"  I  replied. 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  89 

"It  leads  directly  on,  near  where  a  consider- 
able body  of  our  troops  are,  yet  I  think  it  will 
be  safer  for  you  to  keep  it  than  to  try  side 
roads,  where  you  would  be  constantly  stopped. 
I  will  give  you  a  note  to  the  general  in  com- 
mand, and  a  pass,  which  will  aid  you  until  you 
reach  him.  He  will  likely  give  you  an  escort 
for  some  distance,"  he  added,  writing  as  he 
spoke. 

When  he  handed  me  the  papers,  I  asked  him 
about  the  positions  of  the  Yankees,  and  in  an- 
swering he  told  me  also  something  new  about 
how  Luce's  army  was  located,  which  was  one 
of  the  clues  that  I  wanted  to  learn. 

I  had  no  idea  of  using  the  papers  unless  I 
should  fail  in  all  efforts  to  find  Captain  De- 
Lacy.  I  told  Ned  not  to  refer  to  them  in 
any  way  or  to  our  encounter,  while  he  should 
be  separated  from  me,  and  impressed  on  him 
that  he  was  not  to  get  out  of  the  buggy  if 
he  could  help  it,  or  leave  the  horses  one 
moment  unless  dragged  away  by  force.     I  re- 


90  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

gretted  that  we  had  run  into  the  camp,  fur  it 
took  valuable  time,  and  it  did  not  make  me 
feel  any  better  about  it  to  know  that  it  had 
happened  through  my  own  carelessness.  If  I 
had  been  watching  out,  as  I  ought  to  have 
1)een,  I  would  have  noticed  the  fires  in  time  to 
have  avoided  them  l)y  making  a  detour,  and  I 
believed  that  I  could  have  gotten  later  the 
valuable  bit  of  information  the  talkative  officer 
had  given  me. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  encounter  had  one  good  result,  however. 
It  got  us  over  our  stage  fright,  as  it  were,  and 
rather  raised  us  up  to  the  grand  climax. 

We  had  driven  nearly  three  miles  fai'ther 
before  we  ran  into  the  Rebel  camp  again. 
When  we  finally  found  ourselves  making  our 
way  under  guard  to  General  Dare^s  head- 
quarters, we  were  far  more  composed  than 
we  could  possiVdy  have  been  had  we  not  al- 
ready had  some  experience. 

When  stop]3ed,  I  had  insisted  on  being 
allowed  to  proceed,  but  as  I  expected  and 
desired,  the  simple  privilege  of  following  my 
own  way  was  denied  me.  My  statements  re- 
garding my  identity  were  received  with  in- 
credulity. I  insisted  on  the  truth  of  my  story, 
and  I  demanded  that  I  be  taken  to  headquar- 

91 


92  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

ters  at  once.  After  some  parley,  my  request 
was  acceded  to  and  a  couple  of  soldiers  took 
their  places  at  the  horses'  heads  and  slowly 
led  them  forward,  while  a  guard  walked  at 
the  side  of  the  buggy  until  Ave  reached  a 
cluster  of  tents  pitched  somewhat  apart,  in 
front  of  which  stood  four  or  five  officers  con- 
versinii;. 

The  officer  who  had  brought  us  in  advanced 
to  the  group,  and  I  could  hear  him  reporting 
the  circumstances  of  our  arrest.  A  handsome 
subaltern  came  forward  to  assist  me  from  the 
buggy,  and  I  was  soon  answering  the  curtly- 
put  inquiries  of  the  middle  aged  officer  to 
whom  I  had  l)een  conducted.  I  re^^eated  my 
story.  He  questioned  and  cross-questioned  me 
severely,  but  I  was  too  entirely  familiar  with 
my  ground  to  be  caught  tripping.  I  felt  a 
good  deal  as  if  I  were  an  actor  in  a  play, 
and  while  I  must  say  that  I  did  not  particu- 
larly admire  the  setting,  I  began  to  have  an 
intense  interest  in  rendering  my  part  well  and 
having  all  go  oif  smoothly. 


THE    LOST   BISPATCn.  93 

Ned  was  seated  in  the  buggy  witliiu  hearino- 
distance  and  I  saw  he  had  assumed,  or  was 
really  feeling,  about  the  right  amount  of  anxi- 
ety, and  that  no  one  seemed  to  be  paying  any 
attention  whatever  to  him. 

I  did  not  recognize  the  officer  interrogating 
me,  but  I  heard  him  addressed  by  one  of  tlie 
other  officers  as  Colonel  Soil  eld.  AVhen  after 
telling  him  my  story,  he  utterly  refused  to 
credit  it.  I  asked  to  see  the  General  in  com- 
mand. Col.  Sofield  replied  that  General  Sen- 
house  had  gone  over  to  confer  with  General 
Leonard  and  miglit  not  be  back  until  morn- 
ing, not  for  several  hours  certainly,  and  fol- 
lowed the  explanation  with  an  intimation  that 
both  myself  and  my  servant  would  be  well  off 
under  guard  until  his  return. 

I  was  somewhat  nonplussed  when  the  officer 
said  General  Senhouse.  I  had  looked  on  Gen- 
eral Dare  only  as  a  guide  to  Captain  DeLacy, 
and  had  no  interest  whatever  beyond  that  in 
him.     At   the   same  time  I  was    a   trifle   sur- 


94  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

j)rised  that  I  had  not  been  taken  before  him, 
and  that  reference  had  not  been  made  to  him 
instead  of  to  General  Senhouse.  I  began  to 
wonder  if  it  were  possible  that  I  had  not 
reached  Dare's  headquarters,  but  I  did  not 
dare  ask  directly  or  betray  more  knowledge 
of  army  details  than  a  girl  would  be  likely 
to  know.     After  pondering  a  moment,  I  said  : 

"  I  ought  perhaps  to  have  stopped  at  A , 

as  I  was  advised  to  do,  but  I  was  so  very 
anxious  to  get  on,  that  I  could  not  make  up 
my  mind  to  delay  there.  Will  you  tell  me 
what  regiment  this  is  ?  I  have  friends  and 
relatives  with  General  Luce  and  there  may 
be  some  one  here  who  can  identify  me." 

An  orderly  was  presenting  a  paper  to  Col. 
Sofield  as  I  finished  speaking,  and  another 
officer,  who  had  come  up  but  a  short  time 
previous  and  was  standing  near,  in  com23any 
with  the  others,  answered  : 

"This  is  General  Dare's  division,  but  Gen- 
eral Senhouse  is  in  command  at  present.     Over 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  95 

on  the  left  there  is  the  Reo-iment, 

Brigade  ;  others  are  further  on.  If  you  will 
give  the  names  of  your  friends,  and  they  are 
here,  they  can  be  sent  for." 

"  Captain  DeLacy  is  with  General  Dare.  If 
I  could  see  him,  he  would  assure  you  that  I  am 
just  who  I  represent  myself.  He  is  a  very  inti- 
mate friend  of  the  family,"  I  said,  turning 
again  to  my  first  interlocuter. 

"  Impossible,"  he  replied,  "  Captain  DeLacy 
has  just  started  to  inspect  a  position  several 
miles  from  here.  There  is  no  telling  when 
he  will  be  back." 

''  Beg  pardon.  Colonel,  but  Captain  DeLacy 
has  not  got  off  yet.  lie  passed  us  on  the  way 
over  here,  and  I  saw  him  go  in  Colonel  Louns- 
bery's  tent  a  few  minutes  ago,"  spoke  up  an- 
other officer.  ^' There  he  comes  now,"  he 
added,  as  a  tall  figure  came  out  of  a  tent 
near  by. 

Affairs  progressed  rapidly  in  the  next  few 
minutes.     In  less  time  than  I  could   write  it, 


96  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

Captain  DeLacy  had  been  called  over  to  iden- 
tify me  ;  had  done  it,  even  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  obdurate  Colonel,  and  heard  the  story 
of  my  detention,  and  my  anxious  request  that 
I  might  go  on  at  once. 

Captain  DeLacy  asked  and  received  per- 
mission to  take  me  into  a  neighboring  tent, 
where  I  could  wait,  freed  from  the  gaze  of 
those  who  had  slathered  around  to  see  what 
was  going  on,  until  he  could  procure  the  passes 
necessary  to  insure  my  safe  conduct  through 
their  lines.  Colonel  Sofield,  whose  good  man- 
ners had  increased  in  proportion  to  the  streng- 
thening of  his  convictions  that  I  was  not  a  spy, 
told  him  to  take  me  into  General  Dare's  tent, 
as  it  was  the  nearest  one  unoccupied,  then  to 
return  to  him  for  passes. 

A  moment  later  I  was  alone  with  the  only 
man  of  them  all  who  could  penetrate  my  dis- 
guise. His  first  words  assured  me  that  he  had 
not  heard  from  Salome  lately  enough  to  im- 
peril my  statements.    And  his  hurried  whispers 


THE   LOST   DISPATCH.  97 

of  love  and  devotion,  together  with  his  grave 
concern  at  my  having  undertaken  a  journey 
through  that  section  at  so  dangerous  a  time, 
proved  that  he  accepted  me  in  perfect  good 
faith. 

Even  at  that  desperate  moment,  at  the  touch 
of  the  Captain's  lips  I  was  filled  with  an  un- 
holy glee. 

Fortunately,  he  had  little  time  to  play  the 
lover.  Love  and  war  are  an  ill -matched 
couple,  and  except  that  both  set  at  naught 
all  interfering  laws,  they  have  nothing  in  com- 
mon. The  latter  never  relaxes  the  grasp  of  a 
master  and  exacts  that  all  who  serve  him  shall 
fulfill  their  duty  to  the  utmost,  without  delay 
or  flinching,  although  by  so  doing  all  pleas- 
ures, affections,  ties  of  kindred  and  life  itself 
are  yielded  up. 

My  expressed  anxiety  for  his  safety,  and  pre- 
tended impression  that  he  was  on  some  danger- 
ous raid,  led  Captain  DeLacy  to  assure  me  that 
he  was  with  Luce,  and  to  tell  me  what  forces 


98  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

Luce  had  with  him,  but  no  more  about  his 
future  movements  than  I  had  ah*eady  gath- 
ered, which  amounted  to  but  little  beyond  a 
clue  to  the  meaning  of  General  Middleworth's 
movement,  which  I  had  witnessed  that  after- 
noon. I  questioned  as  closely  as  I  dared,  but 
elicited  nothing  further.  My  shrewdest  eifoits 
were  a  failure.  I  saw  that  he  either  had  not 
been  informed  of  the  object  of  the  campaign, 
or  felt  bound  not  to  reveal  it  even  to  one  whom 
he  held  as  dear  as  he  did  Salome. 


CHAPTER  XII, 

While  conversing  with  Captain  DeLacy,  I 
had  become  as  familiar  with  the  interior  of 
the  tent  as  I  could  by  the  light  of  one  in- 
ferior candle  and  the  use  of  my  eyes.  There 
seemed  nothino^  there  to  invite  in vesti oration. 

Even  after  Captain  DeLacy  had  reluctantly 
left  me,  a  closer  inspection  revealed  nothing 
more  promising.  I  sat  on  a  camp  stool,  in  a 
corner  ;  near  was  a  pile  of  blankets  ;  a  rough 
camp  chair  stood  between  me  and  the  bed  ; 
a  bayonet  stuck  in  the  ground  did  duty  for 
a  candlestick,  and  on  an  empty  wooden  box 
near  me  lay  a  paper-covered  book. 

I  had  just  had  time  to  run  a  hasty  glance 
through  the  book,  when  the  fly  was  raised  and 
an  officer  entered.  As  was  only  natural,  he 
started  when  he  saw  me,  then  lifted   his   hat 


100  THE   LOST   DISPATCH. 

with  a  half- spoken  apology,  tossed  a  news- 
paj^er  carelessly  on  the  bed,  threw  his  over- 
coat over  the  chair  and  went  out  asfain. 

I  recognized  him  instantly  as  General  Dare. 
His  actions  and  looks  struck  me  as  those  of  a 
man  ^vho  felt  at  odds  with  the  world  and  who 
was  nursing  a  grievance,  but  I  was  too  deeply 
concerned  about  my  own  affairs  to  be  more 
than  casually  impressed  with  what  I  learned 
afterwards  was  the  case. 

It  is  a  strange  fact  that  in  times  of  most 
intense  suffering,  deadly  peril  and  deepest 
thought,  the  eye  will  be  attracted  by  the 
most  trivial  objects.  While  I  anxiously  pon- 
dered my  next  move,  my  eye  mechanically  fol- 
lowed in  and  out  the  fantastically  curved  line 
made  by  the  shadows  cast  by  the  pile  of  blank- 
ets, then  by  the  edge  of  the  coat  cape  as  it 
trailed  along  the  floor.  I  had  followed  it 
almost  to  the  end  when  my  gaze  ^vas  arrested 
by  a  spot  of  color  differing  from  the  rest. 
With  a  start,  I  realized  that  I  was  looking  at 


THE   LOST   DISPATCH.  101 

a  flat,  long  book.  1  could  not  tell  then  and 
I  cannot  tell  now  whether  it  fell  from  the  over- 
coat or  was  lying  there  when  I  entered,  but  I 
do  not  see  how  it  could  have  been  there  at  first 
and  escaped  my  observation. 

I  determined  at  once  to  see  the  contents  of 
that  book.  There  was  not  one  instant  to  be 
lost.  I  well  knew  that  even  then  some  one 
might  be  standing  at  the  entrance  and  that 
the  Captain  would  return  at  any  moment. 
But  examine  that  book  I  must,  even  at  the 
risk  of  surprise,  detection  and  death.  It  was 
the  most  critical  moment  I  had  yet  encoun- 
tered.    I  had  to  think  and  act  together. 

Throwing  myself  at  full  length  on  the  grassy 
floor,  with  my  head  screened  from  the  first 
glance  of  any  one  entering,  intending  to  feign 
a  swoon  if  any  one  did  come,  I  extended  my 
arm  above  my  head,  in  the  shelter  of  the  chair, 
and  had  the  book  in  my  impatient  fingers. 

Opening  it  hastily,  I  scanned  it  in  the  dim 
light  which  came  over  my  shoulder  from  the 


102       •  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

flickering  candle.  I  was  confronted  by  a  series 
of  blank  pages.  General  Dare^s  name  was  on 
the  fly  leaf.  Only  the  first  three  pages  were 
written  on,  and  they  contained  nothing  except 
detached  items  of  interest  to  him  only.  Evi- 
dently, the  book  had  been  newly  purchased, 
for  the  dates  ran  but  a  few  days  back. 

Bitterly  disappointed,  I  ran  over  the  pages 
again,  and  a  folded  ]3aper  slipped  into  view. 
Even  to  this  day  I  can  distinctly  feel  the  wild 
bound  of  exultation  my  heart  gave  when  I 
knew  that  I  held  in  my  hands  a  copy  of 
Special  Order  No.  000,  issued  by  the  Kebel 
Commander  in  Chief  only  four  days  before, 
and  regulating  the  movements  of  all  the  di- 
visions of  his  army  for  several  days  to  come. 

At  the  sight  of  that  paper  every  drop  of 
blood  in  my  body  seemed  to  rush  to  my  heart, 
only  to  leave  it  again  with  a  wild  speed  that 
turned  me  faint  and  dizzy.  The  letters  danced 
before  my  eyes,  but  even  in  that  one  hasty 
glance  I  took  in  enough  to  know  that  I  need 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  108 

seek  no  further  information.  I  had  succeeded 
even  beyond  my  hopes  and  expectations.  If  I 
could  get  safely  back  with  that  paper,  and 
whatever  else  I  had  learned,  I  felt  check  to 
the  Rebels  must  be  insured. 

Hastily  concealing  the  paper,  I  pushed  the 
book  under  the  bed,  and  had  barely  regained 
my  place  when  Captain  DeLacy  re-entered 
with  the  passes.  There  was  no  time  for  fur- 
ther private  conversation  between  us,  which  I 
regarded  as  a  piece  of  good  luck. 

Captain  DeLacy  told  me,  while  he  hastily 
assorted  the  papers  in  his  hand,  that  he  was 
obliged  to  proceed  without  delay  on  the  impor- 
tant duty  for  which  he  was  preparing  when 
Colonel  So  field  had  called  him  to  me  ;  that  as 
the  first  2^art  of  our  way  lay  the  same  as  his,  he 
could  act  as  my  escort  until  his  road  turned 
off  from  the  one  I  was  to  follow.     From  where 

he   had  to  leave  me,  to  H was  only  ten 

miles,  and  he  exacted  a  promise  that  I  would 
remain  there  with  friends  until  morninof. 


104  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

I  could  not  but  be  touched  at  his  anxiety 
about  me,  impatient  as  I  was  at  the  delay 
which  it  caused. 

We  started  almost  immediately.  Captain 
DeLacy  rode  at  the  side  of  the  buggy  and 
the  squad  of  men  with  him  a  short  distance  in 
advance.  The  road  was  clear,  and  we  made 
excellent  time. 

At  last  the  moment  of  separation  came.  His 
real  farewell  had  already  been  said,  so  before 
following  his  men  down  the  dark  path,  into 
which  they  had  turned,  the  Captain  paused 
only  for  some  cautions  to  Ned  and  a  quickly 
spoken  "  good  bye  "  to  me,  which  held  as  much 
as  was  ever  put  in  that  simple  word. 

I  realized  fully  what  the  parting  was  to  him. 
He  had  accepted  me  as  Salome,  without  doubt 
or  question,  and  to  leave  me  with  no  other  pro- 
tector than  Ned  tried  liim  sorely. 

I  leaned  out  of  the  buggy  and  looked  back 
after  him,  with  a  feeling  of  pain  that  surprised 
me.     As  he  disappeared,  a  presentment  that  I 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  105 

should  never  see  him  again  crept  over  me,  fol- 
lowed by  an  idle  speculation  whether  it  was  he 
or  I  who  was  first  to  meet  our  fate,  a  feeling 
which  I  rembered  well  a  few  months  later, 
when  I  received  the  news  that  Captain  DeLacy 
had  been  shot  in  battle. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Shaking  off  the  dim  sense  of  foreboding,  I 
gave  my  thoughts  entirely  to  the  task  before 
me.  I  had  decided  to  make  my  way  doAvn 
the  side  of  the  river  I  was  then  on.  From 
what  I  had  learned  of  the  position  of  the 
enemy,  I  knew  the  risk  would  l)e  no  greater 
than  if  I  crossed  to  the  opposite  shore,  and  I 
hoped  to  save  many  weary  miles  of  travel. 
Being  well  aware  of  the  extreme  caution 
shown  on  our  side,  I  thought  the  chances 
were  that  our  army  would  be  yet  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  place  where  I  left  them, 
and  I  aimed  for  that  point. 

I  told  Ned  that  I  had  secured  a  paper  of  the 
utmost  importance,  and  that  if  I  were  shot  and 
he  escaped,  he  was  to  take  the  paper  from  its 
place  of  concealment  and  carry  it  on. 

106 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  107 

We  turned  to  the  left,  down  the  first  road 
we  came  to,  after  parting  with  Captain  DeLacy 
and  his  men.  Just  before  we  reached  it,  we 
were  stopped  l)y  a  small  party  of  Confederates 
on  horseback.  I  offered  my  passes.  Striking 
a  match,  an  officer  read  them,  and  after  a  few 
questions,  allowed  us  to  go  on.  That  was  the 
only  time  the  j^asses  were  of  use  to  us,  for  as 
soon  as  I  parted  with  my  disguise  they  w^ere, 
of  course,  worthless. 

In  order  to  make  the  best  time  possible, 
and  avail  ourselves  of  short  cuts  and  bridle 
paths,  it  was  necessary  to  leave  the  buggy 
and  return  to  horseback.  That  we  did  at  the 
earliest  practical  moment.  As  soon  as  we 
came  to  a  rough  bit  of  road,  after  our  first 
turn,  Ned  drove  the  buggy  to  one  side,  and, 
knocking  off  a  wheel,  left  it  to  its  fate.  When 
I  was  again  in  my  own  clothes,  we  made  the 
harness  and  my  disguise  into  several  bundles, 
which  Ned  weighted  and  dropped  into  the  first 
creek  we  came  to. 


108  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

That  done,  we  hurried  on.  The  night  had 
turned  cloudy  and  dark  while  we  had  been  in 
the  Confederate  camp.  It  did  not  rain,  but  be- 
fore long  we  struck  a  place  where  it  had  very 
recently,  and  our  horses  for  a  short  distance 
were  obliged  to  plough  through  slippery  clay. 
Frequently  we  would  see  the  fires  of  some  out- 
post, and  often  a  picket  shot,  sometimes  start- 
lingly  near,  would  ring  out  on  the  murky 
night. 

Well  as  I  knew  the  country,  I  finally  made  a 
false  turn  in  the  confusing  darkness,  and  ap- 
proached the  river  when  I  thought  Ave  were 
still  several  miles  away  from  it  and  follow- 
ing its  course. 

Leaving  Ned  in  safe  hiding,  I  crept  forward 
to  reconnoiter.  I  made  for  a  rock  overhanerins: 
the  water,  at  the  head  of  a  bend  in  the  river, 
from  the  edge  of  which  I  hoped  to  be  able 
to  tell  if  the  fires  opposite  were  repeated  down 
the  side  I  was  on. 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  109 

As  I  gained  a  sheltered  place  near  the  top 
and  in  the  rear  of  the  rock,  I  heard  a  boat 
grate  on  the  pebbles  beneath,  and  two  men 
ascended  to  the  very  spot  I  had  started  for. 
I  lay  low  behind  the  scanty  bushes,  while 
they  sat  down  near  me.  From  what  they 
said,  I  gathered  that  they  had  crossed  from 
the  Rebel  camp  over  the  river  to  investigate 
the  bank  up  stream  for  some  purpose,  but 
not  liking  the  looks  of  something  that  had 
attracted  their  notice,  they  had  stopped  there 
to  decide  what  they  should  do. 

I  was  too  near  to  move  away  without  them 
hearing  me.  I  was  caught  in  a  trap.  Chaffing 
at  a  delay,  when  every  moment  was  precious, 
and  fearing  that  Ned,  alarmed  at  my  pro- 
tracted  absence,  might  come  to  look  for  me, 
I  was  obliged  to  crouch,  motionless  in  my 
hiding  place,  while  the  two  men  so  near  me 
idly  discussed  topics  re-lating  to  everything  but 
the  duty  they  were  on.     While  I  waited,  the 


110  THE    LOST   DISPATCH. 

clouds  began  to  break  away,  and  once  or  twice 
the  moonlight  shone  out  full  and  strong, 
leaving  me  with  little  to  shield  me,  had  they 
chanced  to  turn  ai'ound. 

Finally,  after  what  seemed  hours  to  me,  one 
decided  to  go  over  for  re -enforcements  and  de- 
scended to  the  boat.  Cautiously  rising,  as  the 
other  advanced  to  the  extreme  edo-e  of  the 
rock,  I  saw  that  his  back  was  toward  me 
and  that  he  was  intently  watching  the  pro- 
gress of  the  boat,  then  in  mid -stream. 

It  was  possible  then  for  me  to  have  slipped 
away  unnoticed,  but  I  was  exasperated  beyond 
endurance.  An  uncontrolable  impulse  seized 
me.  Even  if  I  had  been  sure  that  the  whole 
Confederate  army  would  have  started  to  his 
rescue,  I  could  not  have  helped  pushing  that 
man  into  the  water.  Moving  noiselessly  be- 
hind him,  with  the  end  of  my  revolver  I  gave 
him  a  sharp  punch  in  th^  middle  of  the  back. 
Taken    completely   off   his    guard,    without   a 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  Ill 

word,  but  with  a  wild  whirl  of  arms  and 
legs,  he  went  straight  down  into  the  deep 
water  beneath.  I  have  wondered  hundreds 
of  times  since,  what  that  man  thought  was 
the  matter  with  him.  If  he  has  lived  to  read 
this,  he  knows  now. 


CHAPTER   XTV. 

I  returned  to  where  Ned  was,  and  we  began 
retracing  our  steps. 

Although  we  made  frequent  attempts  to  get 
news,  it  was  not  until  nearly  morning  that  I 
learned  that  our  troops  had  advanced  to  a 
point,  nearer  the  place  where  I  had  made  my 
way  into  the  enemy's  camp,  and,  consequently, 
nearer  where  I  was  then,  but  to  my  left.  We 
immediately  changed  our  route. 

From  the  moment  the  order  had  fallen  into 
my  hands,  my  one  desire  and  aim  was  to  get  it 
where  the  information  it  contained,  together 
with  what  other  I  had  gathered,  could  be  put 
to  instant  use.  Every  nerve  throbbed  with 
impatience.  Every  delay  was  intolerable.  Yet 
that  entire  ride  back  was  a  series  of  vexatious 
and  dangerous  delays.     I  was  beset  on  every 

112 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  113 

side  by  dangers,  which  closed  in  on  me  at 
every  point  where  I  tried  to  evade  them. 
Every  mile  counted  for  four  in  my  eagerness 
to  get  on.  I  was  obliged,  time  after  time,  to 
retrace  my  steps  and  make  long  detours  to 
avoid  running  into  bodies  of  skirmishers,  to 
escape  the  vigilance  of  pickets,  and  to  baffle 
the  pursuers  on  our  tracks. 

Twice  that  night  we  stood  with  our  coats 
drawn  tightly  over  our  horses'  heads  to  keep 
them  from  making  a  sound  to  betray  our  pres- 
ence to  the  enemy,  passing  so  closely  below 
that  by  stooping,  we  could  have  lifted  the  hats 
off  of  their  heads  with  a  ramrod. 

Shortly  after  daybreak,  as  the  first  rays  of 
of  the  sun  showed  over  a  neighborino-  hill,  I 
lay  in  a  hollow  log,  while  a  man  from  the 
column  of  passing  soldiers  sat  on  it  to  beat 
the  dirt  and  stones  from  his  remnants  of  shoes. 
The  dust  from  the  inside  of  the  log,  loosened 
by  his  pounding,  choked  me,  until  in  my 
efforts  to  keep  from  coughing,  I  bit   through 


114  THE    LOST   DTSPArcn. 

the  sleeve  of  my  coat,  and  left  the  print  of 
my  teeth  on  my  arm.  About  six  hundred 
soldiers  marched  past  me,  as  I  watched  them 
from  a  crevice  in  the  log. 

Across  the  road  and  half  way  up  the  hill  be- 
yond I  could  see  where  Ned  crouched,  keep- 
ing the  horses  back  in  the  shelter  of  a  low 
thicket.  Knowing  exactly  where  to  look  for 
him,  he  stood  out  with  terrible  distinctness  to 
my  abnormally  keen  sight,  and  I  trembled 
whenever  I  saw  a  soldier  turn  his  head  in  that 
direction. 

Even  now,  as  I  think  it  over,  with  all  my 
increased  experience  and  knowledge  of  hair- 
breadth escapes,  it  seems  simply  incredible 
that  we  ever  got  through.  But  get  through 
we  did. 

By  eight  o'clock,  exhausted  to  faintness  from 
hard  riding,  lack  of  food  and  loss  of  sleep, 
and  with  horses  reeling  from  fatigue,  we 
turned  out  onto  a  road  which  in  a  few  min- 
utes   took    us    beyond    danger.     Loyal    hands 


THE    LOST   DISPATCH.  115 

placed  fresh  horses  at  our  disposal,  and  with 
little  loss  of  time,  we  were  covering  the  last 
ten  miles  of  our  ride. 

Soon  the  bit  of  paper,  that  "  Lost  Dispatch," 
which  through  all  that  long  Ind  fearful  night 
had  been  the  elixir  that  nerved  me  to  my 
work,  was  in  the  hands  of  the  proper  ojSicer, 
and  I  had  communicated  to  him  the  addi- 
tional information  I  had  gathered.  Both  in- 
formation and  dispatch,  without  delay,  were 
carried  to  the  Commander  in  Chief. 

I  only  did  my  duty.  My  responsibility  ended 
there.  But  looking  back  now,  it  seems,  as  it 
did  then,  that  better  results  should  have  been 
obtained  through  a  quick  action  on  the  intelli- 
gence gathered. 


THE    END. 


RARE  BOOK 
COLLECTION 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT 

CHAPEL  HILL 

Wilmer 
729 


